Help in restoring a Steam Engine 4-8-8-4

[Randij]

I purchase a N-Scale Rivarossi Canadian National Steam Locomotive on eBay in memory on my Brother inlaw who died 15Dec2014. Unfortunately it doesn't run. My bother inlaw was an Artist who's theme was "Man and Machine". He didn't like to fly and so he always took the train. This why it is so important to me to get this locomotive to run again.

Anyone who can help in this endevor, I would appreciate it!
Thank you.

[victor miranda]

are you doing the work or are you looking to get some one else to get it running?

we have both kinds here ....
somewhere...

victor

[havingfuntoo]

Are you trying to restore a 4-8-8-4 from rivarossi? My memory of those is that they are dogs. I could never get mine to run in a way that I was happy with.

Did the CN actually have any 4-8-8-4's? I can not ever remember seeing a loco of that configuration in CN livery.

[mmagliaro]

If you decide you are going to try to repair this engine yourself, these pages will give you
an introduction to what you are in for:

http://www.spookshow.net/bigboy.html

Read this one too.  Many of the symptoms and behavior that plague the 4-6-6-4 also apply to your 4-8-8-4
http://www.spookshow.net/riv4664.html

Having worked on the 4-6-6-4, I can attest to the problem of hardened grease.  You may find that
the insides of the engine, the shafts, bearings, gears, and all cavities, are caked in very hardened
white grease that will prevent the moving internal parts ( such as the gears) from moving.  The whole
engine has to be completely disassembled and thoroughly cleaned with lots of solvent and alcohol
if this is the case.

Otherwise, the motor could be burned up, so you will want to remove that, clean the armature, and test
it at the very least.

If you don't want to, or don't know how, to do this sort of work, then, let this forum know.  As Victor
said there are any number of people in here who can do repairs like this.

[u18b]

One other possibility is to consider starting over.

If the Rivarossi loco has some direct connection to your brother, then you will want to find a way to get this one running.

But if the brand doesn't matter, and the connection to your brother has more to do with the 4-8-8-4 arrangement.....

Then you might want to consider getting and Athearn Big Boy.
It is a vastly superior loco.

[up1950s]

Here is what the CN bigboy looks like

http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Scale-Rivarossi-Canadian-National-Steam-Locomotive-with-Tender-/301428698088?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item462e8cebe8&nma=true&si=cGUtHTkcxgHKr3PafQjXbm9R9v4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Did it crap out that motor ?

[Randij]

I'm trying to understand the engine, repair it if I can or get it repaired if I cant. It's a beautiful engine and I don't want to damage it. It runs smoothly without power and show no indication of running with power. I have a spare motor which does no run either.
So people who can repair it, I'd like to hear from you. I can be emailed directly.

[victor miranda]

" it runs smoothly without power"
what?

like you can push it and it rolls along the track?

victor

[mmagliaro]

That eBay ad says that it ran when it was packed away 10 years ago.

I'm afraid you need to give us more accurate specifics about how it doesn't work.
I am also confused about the remark "runs smoothly without power".  I don't know what that means.

If it hums, or at least draws current as measured on an ammeter when you apply power, but the wheels won't
move, I'd really suspect that it is loaded up with that white grease that has turned to the consistency
of hard cheese after 10 years in storage.  You really can't take shortcuts in that area.  That stuff has to be
completely cleaned out of the insides.  If you try to "cheat" and just clean out what you can see with some alcohol and oil, more and more of it will dissolve, relocate itself, and reharden, making the engine draw tons of
current, possibly burn the motor out (if it's working) and jam up again.

Try to get the shell open and get to the motor and worm.  See if you can spin the worm shaft with your fingers.

[rodsup9000]

It sounds like the motor and worms are out of it and it rolls freely.

[mmagliaro]

It sounds like the motor and worms are out of it and it rolls freely.

That "spare motor" in the eBay ad may not be a "spare" at all.  There may be no motor inside the engine.
That would explain a lot.

[rodsup9000]

I have a friend that has new 5 pole custom wound armatures for these motors. If you want his info, PM me and I'll get it to you.

[trainforfun]

Did the CN actually have any 4-8-8-4's? I can not ever remember seeing a loco of that configuration in CN livery.

No CN never had a steamer as big as that .

[Randij]

It can be pushed along the track smoothly.
It shows no indication of functionality when you put power to the track.
It does not run today, it may have run 10 years ago.

[mmagliaro]

Okay, it definitely sounds like there is no motor inside it, and that "spare" motor that
came in the box from eBay is probably the original and only motor.

You might try applying power to that motor with clip leads and a power pack, to see if it works.
I will be surprised if it does.  And since there is no motor in it, the claim from the eBay ad
that it "ran 10 years ago" when it was packed away is clearly false unless somebody got into the box
some time over the past 10 years and removed the motor without the seller knowing that.