Severely Worn Commutator On Model Trains

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September 12, 2006

Heat and arcing can cause long-term wear and result in a worn commutator. A poorly performing train motor can cause higher than normal transformer voltages, hence the arcing. Greater resistance from a poor performing motor requires higher transformer voltages to operate a model train.

A commutator can also, over time, be damaged by using too much lubricants. The oil gets vaporized and “baked” to the commutator surface which lowers performance.