Wrenn Railways W2218 2-6-4 Class 4MT: Repair Request

[@gregoryarchbold8043]

Hi Bill, I’ve just watched this great servicing video once again and I’d like to suggest that it’s worth adding one drop of oil into the hole in the middle of the slot of the top bearing cap. The hole contains a minute amount of absorbent material that helps keep the top ball bearing lubricated. Most Ringfield motors also have a similar arrangement with the bearing cap that juts out of the back of the motor. I have around 15 Wrenn and 5 HD’s and just realised that in addition to the usual greasing (I use Lithium grease) of the top and bottom ball bearings, adding a drop of oil to the hole in the slot is an area I failed to service and so I removed the bodies of all of my locos and added a drop of oil. I noticed in almost all cases quieter and smoother running. Cheers, Greg

[@glengreen362]

A very instructional session. I have a Dublo 3-rail, bought many years ago at a model railway exhibition, that I am trying to convert to 2-rail. In some ways I am regretting started on this. The more I looked into it the more I realize why it was being sold. Trying to get the new drivers quartered is a never ending headache. On top of that the existing wiring had been butchered and needs replacing and I haven't found the parts and then there is the pickup conversion. Nothing on the service sheet Number 7 says there would be unique chassis blocks for 2 & 3-rail engines but there are no holes in the base for screwing on the 2-rail pickups. I sometimes think it would have been easier to convert all my other engines to 3-rail. So far I have replaced the driving wheels. three wheels for the pony and bogie trucks (swapped Triang 2-6-2T's plastic ones), more replacement wheels when one broke with old age, a cylinder block and valve gear set when a drive rod on the old set snapped from a rusting weakness, new brushes because the old ones were so worn they weren't even touching the commutator and now I have just ordered a new set of motor bearings and ball bearings just to get the latter which were missing on my model. When you add up all these costs and the fast I live in Australia and have to pay the exorbitant postage costs from the UK, I should have just bought a 2-rail and saved money. It's just there's something so damned lovable this big engine.

[@dfishpool7052]

Nice work Bill; lovely old model and interesting to see how really well engineered it was when compared wth much of the modern stuff, which if you dismatle it for servicing the risk of damage to them is virtually unavoidable.

[@bianchikat]

i have one it was a beautiful runner, the balance between its weight and the ability of the motor was perfect until one day it stopped...glad to say it is still running again. nothing like a big tank loco..

[@monham5041]

Great work. What a lovely looking loco. The older models are, as you say, very simple and easier to trouble shoot. Great to see her running again. Monique from Brisbane

[@russellbenton2987]

These are nice looking locomotives . I have a Bachmann one , but somehow the Wrenn or Hornby Dublo captures the bulk better . It maybe just that I know it’s metal bodywork . Good one again !

[@daviemaclean61]

Me too.

[@Basaljet]

@@daviemaclean61 I still have my old 4MT from the 60's something magical about the old Dublo stuff (I know this is a Wrenn but they picked up the moulds) feels like a real locomotive. Wrenn went on to produce them in incorrect LMS and other liveries as if they were Staniers, but very pretty. However in my teenage experience once the magnets were separated from the armature they lost something of their power and needed to be "Remagnetised" any comments from author?

[@mikeking2539]

Love how you manage to get these old locos running like new!

[@48firefox]

00 bill the model railway doctor and surgeon!

[@DaiElsan]

Another super therapy video. The valve gear on the 4MT is hypnotic to watch. Thanks Bill

[@donniblanco5239]

Absolute Beauty ✨Just as good as str8 from the box back in the day 🏆👍🏻✨

[@modelrailroader5619]

😂Nothing worse than a model locomotive having an “episode”! Great repair, Bill. 👍🇨🇦

[@donsharpe5786]

I had a Hornby Dublo version in the 1960s. It was the best runner and most our most powerful engine.

[@royston600]

Great job bill got one of these from toy fair wheels stuck bent rods now runs great but must confess didn’t check wheel spacing next job eh

[@gfunkmusic6836]

That runs so nicely now, superb job! Have got a Hornby Dunlop 4mt that my dad bought me in the 1970s, it’s always had a missing front bogie for some reason. Never bothered sourcing a new bogie but always loved the model!

[@User-3O3]

Absolute perfection as always, Billy-boo.

[@robertgates7686]

Interesting video. Brass dressmakers pins can sometimes be used to repair valve gear rivets.

[@111greatbear3]

Love the old Wrenn locomotives

[@MrSnooze]

Great job on that excellent Wrenn loco and you are right that if looked after they run really well. It would have been interesting to know what the current draw was once remagged and run in a bit. All the best to you

[@schwarzalben88]

I can see you've been decorating Bill, You've got white paint on your right forearm 🙂

[@ianwatson2872]

well spotted ,id seen that as well ,a real bonney loco and a fab video Bill

[@ghostengineer]

I have one of these I bought off of ebay last year. She ran ok, took.it apart and cleaned it and now runs very well. She's a good puller too

[@markread5723]

My dad had one of these, hell of a heavy thing, i love the valve gear. I have the Wren LMS Duchess

[@Swmechanics]

Brilliant vid

[@eugeniomarins2936]

Dear Sir, I like the "into the shed" scheme and i don't mind the helping "finger of god," on the contrary, it is funny. Cheers from Brazil!

[@timgray3491]

Another nice piece of work Bill great stuff.

[@nicholasbishop3300]

Smart looking loco that Bill Nice job as usual Nick Australia

[@JohnJohnson-cn9fh]

nice one bill,great old loco,s as solid as a rock.jpj

[@gerardburton3741]

Hi Bill, One of my favourite engines. For pushing an engine into the shed could you use a lowmac wagon as long as you can get it through the shed doors. Such as one of the Triang R239 NATO wagon.

[@PeterJewell2]

The R239 'Bomb Transporter' wagon is based on a real wagon known as a Trestrol (although it is dimensionally inaccurate -- too short, I think, for a start, and the floor isn't right.). It would have had a fixed wooden trestle mounted on the dropped floor to carry large plates of steel, or similar, at an angle to keep them within the loading gauge. (The plates would be too wide if carried flat, and too high if carried vertically.) A 'LOWMAC' is a wagon with a LOW floor for carrying vehicles or other MAChinery, and I think they were all relatively short 4-wheelers. But agreed, a wagon would look better than a 300mm:1ft finger!

[@Swmechanics]

Bachmann 08 has amazing torque it did move my class 47

[@peternorris6438]

Looking good running well

[@TheCrazyhorse1876]

Magician at work. Bill do you have a brass screw for tender and screw to fit the body of a R3417 late BR 2-6-0 Ki class Hornby 2014 so I can get thing running .If not do any of your viewers have them by chance.

[@stevekovoc3939]

I have one of these locos, and it's a great runner for its age. Not perfect, of course, but these are 40-50 years old now. I can say from personal experience that they are really well made and truly built to last.

[@adewhite3921]

Hi Bill, can you tell me what the aerosol can of contact cleaner is that you use. I keep trying to catch a glimpse but have failed so far.

[@PeterJewell2]

WD40 (Fast Drying) Contact Cleaner -- NOT WD40 oil!!!

[@johnhogan3501]

I have a Loco similar to that (same number) but it has a Hornby Dublo chassis. 🤨

[@rozentals_photography28]

How to find springs and brushes for this loco maybe you can give so serial number ?

[@PeterJewell2]

Of course, you have now found the ideal loco to shove (sorry, shunt) your poorly patients into the shed. Best start saving those pennies!

[@jacksnavely559]

Looks like a pancake motor in a different position 👍,

[@peternorris6438]

Can you still purchase those remagnitiseres

[@tonyhill6296]

Yes Peter. I have one too. Look up the website of Ronald Dodd. He makes and sells these units. Hope this helps. Tony 🚂