Can We Make This Vintage Spirit of 76' Locomotive Run Again?

I was sent this vintage tyco spirit of 76' locomotive a while back and after testing it discovered that it didn't run. I wasn't sure exactly what was wrong with it but the motor didn't seem to be showing any signs of working and sure enough there where a variety of problems with it. Thought I would show my attempt at getting it running and the results.

[@davidztog9011]

That locomotive sure is rough, Harrison. The weights were most likely in the fuel tanks which are non existent. Might be able to borrow the truck frames and fuel tanks from another inoperable Tyco. But at least she's a runner in time for a 4th of July special?!?! Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍

[@johnellick7362]

The spirit of 76 tyco was always my favorite toy locomotive. I now own 4 of them and learned how to repair and maintain them from your videos. Great job on your repair videos. !!! BTW I am originally from Mantua NJ USA The original home of TYCO trains. My grandfathers friend worked for tyco and I recieved tyco trains for Christmas when I was a kid. I really enjoy your train repair videos.

[@Santaanacanyon]

Harris, you made me feel 12 years old again! This was the locomotive from my very first train set, given to me on Christmas. Yep, my folks bought it new…in 1976! And take it from me: it didn’t run too well in 1976, either. It had to be brought in for repairs, twice, to the local hobby shop. I gave up my trains when I left home for college, but that red white and blue engine got me addicted to this hobby. Thanks Harris and Merry Christmas!

[@trainstorm1225]

Locomotive: “Eh. I don’t wanna work anymore.” SMT: “You have no power here.”

[@angryrailfan5711]

These Tyco engines will probably never die.

[@SMTMainline]

They can break as much as they want but give me enough: solder, oil, ca and spare parts and they will continue to run.

[@dalecherne5377]

@@SMTMainline Just like a real Alco lol

[@johnellick7778]

Great videos. I've learned alot watching them and have successfully restored several Tyco locomotives.

[@kidwithanuke]

I've been repairing Tyco Powertorques for a decade+ now and I've never seen one like that before. How odd, a motor that was totally seized. You're right, most of the time it's the gearbox along with that pinion gear. I believe that is a Gen 2 Powertorque with the limited cooling holes.

[@scottledbetter7212]

Loving the Tyco videos. Thank you ! Cheers to Canada 🇨🇦

[@steezytrtl2701]

You are an absolute legend at repairing trains

[@andytycotrains1148]

Gran Trabajo Harrison - Felicitaciones !!!! Good Job - greetings from Argentina

[@nms9]

Funny you uploaded this today. I was given that exact loco today. Mine is in similar condition so I'll probably be using your tips to get it to run.

[@Uptownloki47]

Serenity! Congrats on another successful restoration. Can’t wait to see that in your 4th of July video.

[@WisconsinCentralProductions]

when he pryed off the wheels I heard him say lets see if we can rickroll that

[@kathymorrison8341]

wow that's neat! I been watching for about a week now and you are enjoyable. I'm new to all this.

[@antonbruce1241]

Neat tool! Necessity truly IS the mother of invention.

[@johnramirez5996]

Great job Harrison. I just came across a digitrax zephyr dcs51 for $90. Working on the purchase of this dcc unit as i respond to your video. Don't know how much these go for in price, but, $90 seemed to be a good price for me.

[@Petemonster62]

I wonder if High schools still have Industrial Arts classes that involve molding plastics? It seems the Tyco Power Torque drive locomotives often loose their truck side frames. A modeler could make a mold to cast new side frames. One thing to try; press a side frame into a block of clay; fill the impression the side frame made with tube-type model cement, & let it set for a few days. Then, after it solidifies, paint it & install it on the locomotive.

[@jensenleblanc]

Hey Harrison!! Good call on the traction tires on my Southern, runs very well now, had an extra set from a Santa Fe Unit and now it runs perfect. I also have this loco and it had no trucks (1776 in the video) so I made it into a dummy using some extra parts I had. I also have a Sharknose Burlington Northern but it just goes so slow, can’t seem to figure that one out... Have a great day!!!

[@williamrathwell766]

Great video. Good work on getting it running.

[@TechBuild]

I would recommend getting one of those gear pinion remover tools to pull gears out from shafts safely and easily.

[@dirtydanstrains1414]

Love the video man. Happy days!

[@rouell5630]

What a beautiful train

[@mercuryoak2]

Wow I remember my uncle having one. Not sure who made it but was his according to what he had in late 1990s early 2000s his best running locomotive. Great repair that is one of the ones that has the president seal that says the President of United States in gold then thats a rare one others were recalled and all had to be changed due to copyright issues from tyco just in case you didnt know that is a rare one in rough shape but I think did very good getting this running diamond in the rough

[@wraha8307]

The first of your videos I've watched imidietly after you uploaded it . I reallly like the livery

[@robertlucido3686]

I watched your videos on that Runaway Train consist you made, and I thought you'd want to know that I looked on Wikipedia, and I read that the two trailing units, the two gp7's (or at least they said about the one that's the fourth engine #1801( renumbered #1804) were used in the movie Under Siege 2 with Steven Seagal

[@majorwoody1720]

Apparently 26 lol loved the vid

[@debbieminton8375]

I smell the fresh scent of good old freedom

[@dbtech7914]

Good job! You have to have the Spirit of 76 running for 4th of July. I thought it was appropriate to run mine while watching your video. I've never seen a motor with multi color windings. I wonder if it is from something else? The little plastic coupler pockets I sent you will fit that.

[@bolesawmayzel6476]

This is RTR (rusty train restoration) Mainline keep going bro

[@themadcoachman]

I have a N scale version either Atlas or Kato cant remember, glad you got it going though

[@Theconductor607]

You should do a video when you give the locomotives to your fans

[@speedster1093]

Cool as always!

[@traintimeboy]

Hey smt!! I have a few broken locomotives, is there a way I could send them on to you? Plus, how much will it cost? Love ur vids!

[@haroldthebuoy9666]

I have the same problem with this loco, I’ll use this to fix it

[@evanj2400]

SMT, can you please do a video on all of your f-t units, thank ya

[@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494]

i have the centre weight with fuel tanks for this loco and am restoring one myself so am going to be resin moulding some truck sides if you are interested

[@CT9905.]

Outstanding repair work, I have Two of that same model "Spirit of Seventy-Six" locomotive's But mine are working.

[@ATDCC_Colby]

smt I resurrected the same style of engine (Illinois centeral gulf) from the dead that was in several pieces and now it runs better than new!

[@francoisguerette]

Love the vid SMT!

[@sjdkenjejejdnnf6097]

Happy canada day and 4 th of july

[@SMTMainline]

And same to you :)

[@sjdkenjejejdnnf6097]

SMT Mainline keep up the good work i love watching ur channel because I have a ho scale layout to

[@TechBuild]

Why don't you try doing a pulling-capacity test for the restored locomotives? It would be interesting to see how much can the locomotives pull.

[@presidentmccheese8982]

I recommend you use a small pair of pliers to pull out the motor because I broke my nail when I was doing something similar.

[@xxantyaboixx104]

Hey SMT, what’s a good cheap website to buy older ho scale things?/(ps love the vids keep it up bro)

[@Zebrails]

Wait... weight... it's missing its fuel tank-which has the weight. Right. John BC

[@BlaxlandRidge3]

1:45 "Let's see if we can rickroll that"

[@borailroadfan8964]

Nice Video SMT.

[@spproductions5103]

Epic... I haven't commented on a video in so long I feel Concerned

[@speedster1093]

SMT Mainline is the Scotty Kilmer of model trains.

[@jacojasso9901]

Nice Video smt

[@robertrivera9162]

I am finally running trains on my layout but I think I need bigger radius curves for my Alco PAs

[@chanteller2011]

Locomotive: "I want to retire from Running " SMT: *Nope*

[@DowntownTrains]

I have the exact same one, same condition even and I was able to resurrect it after replacing the whole gear system.

[@evanj2400]

I have a Norfolk Southern f unit that won’t work, I’ve taken it to multiple shops and they said they can’t fix it

[@evanj2400]

Robert King I was about to but my dad said no don’t send it to a random KZbinr you don’t even know

[@shockstrains5077]

SMT is the bob the builder of model trains. He asks if he can fix it and everyone says yes he can.

[@francispineault9045]

cool train Its beautiful but why is it missing a piece on the front

[@steezytrtl2701]

I don’t want to be that guy but, it’s spelled “piece”

[@francispineault9045]

DabbieTurtle_18 Oh 😂 sorry mistake

[@steezytrtl2701]

Francis Pineault it’s ok

[@ROKMAN1445]

Clean wheels can be the saving grace for locomotive restoration. Why? Watch this. Several locomotives of mine have suffered wheels so dirty that it makes mud look shiny, which oftentimes ends up being half of why they ran so poorly. Whatever you're gonna do to your locomotives, remember to CLEAN THE WHEELS.

[@robertrivera9162]

Once I get the new curves I could run my dad's old Tyco Chattanooga locomotive

[@toddmore7586]

I have a Bachmann N gage bicentennial set still in the box

[@antimonykid]

The two wire connectors are attached to two posts. Is there suppose to be something that isolates it from the other post?

[@porterfan4837]

I own a 76 spirit it doesnt run as good as it used to but hey it still runs

[@railwayreviews763]

I had the same armercher as well

[@tiffanyclark1687]

If it's an American trian just give it some jack Daniel's it will run forever

[@chrislambden2689]

Are you buying ? Sugar 🥃

[@pieseasmyseas]

I'm getting a strange case of déjà vu

[@eastendphotographer428]

I had a few tyco sets from the late 70s and early 80s. Honestly, they worked well for a short time, but ended up being poor performers. Atlas and Athearn units ran better.

[@Project_29]

Should have restored it on the fourth of July

[@lowermainlandrailfan]

I think the bearing was stuck because the old lube had congealed.

[@davidstrainsandlego]

He should have uploaded this on the 4th of July

[@railfansammy4974]

nice I have that to

[@thegillingroup1303]

Can you repair the blue goose?

[@justaboringjoha3678]

How many of those do you own? like 20 or so?

[@CnFan4342]

Nice! Asmr channel?

[@kensbackshop6399]

Scfump great video as always but kill the funeral home music in the back ground it was putting me to sleep,,,lol

[@jmtremane]

Can I send you a locomotive and 4 freight cars? If so how can I do it?

[@stevehartsoe686]

hi im on different account but im spiritair101. ever heard of the outer banks? well im there now. cool vid!

[@milagrosaldana1792]

suscribanse yo ya di like ya que me gusta todos sus videos SMT mainline cuidense

[@slr_393p]

I just got the same locomotive a few days ago for 15$ at a antique store and it don't work You want to fix it lol?

[@DanTDMJace]

Do you live in Canada or the US

[@Glitch-2006]

Can you get a SEPTA ACS 64

[@kevinanderson4846]

What do you think is the a good quality locomotive ?

[@SMTMainline]

Athearn blue box or higher.

[@kevinanderson4846]

@@SMTMainline I have a dozen Tyco spirit of 76 that I collected over the years because I got one for Christmas when they first came out. But now I'm collecting and using others now... repairing them and bringing them back to life is a fun hobby.

[@ericzerkle5214]

I just bought an entire set for 30.00 with this loco. The motor on mine is seized.

[@mistermadmachine6311]

😊👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@nathanclements8421]

That is an old Tyco model, I can tell by the motor

[@localrat2796]

Smt....,we all know you can make it run.

[@Dawsonsrailfanadventures74]

Smt i can mail you a weight for the fuel tank i have a spair one i dont neex

[@kindcake]

Is that a alco

[@SMTMainline]

Yes

[@kindcake]

That's why it looked so familiar

[@charlesbard2331]

It could be they used too much loctite....

[@gradyrailroading7662]

i have that same loco

[@jpbx_902]

for some reason it looks like its a 6 axle loco... XD

[@RealFritoTV]

*drops part on floor* Eh we don't need it. :D

[@SMTMainline]

That's the sprit, let's take off without it! We don't need it anymore

[@ericzerkle5214]

Sounds like an auto mechanic

[@MMRails]

Fir...get it. I’ll never be first again.

[@trainstorm1225]

M&M Rails don’t give up!

[@TheTrainFreak]

TYCO = Trains You Can't Operate

[@SMTMainline]

They were certainly never known for being great runners.