Being pretty new to N gauge there is a lot I still need to learn.
Just recently have been having trouble with some of my Farish Diesels, and on taking the bodies off and examining them, noticed different types of motor drives on different models - the Class 37 & 47 for example having 2 plastic driveshafts that go to each set of bogie wheels, whereas my newest Class 24 has a metal screw at each end driving the bogies which themselves can be just pulled out without undoing any screws, then pushed back in again.
I have heard mention of a bi-pole motor and I think others, but how many different types are there, how do you identify which is which, and which of them is the most modern you can expect to find in the latest releases?. Most of my stock is Farish by the way.
Neither the little maintenance leaflets that come with new engine purchases, nor my Model Trains 2014 manual mention what type of motor is in each engine.
The trouble I have been having is due I think to the fact that the engines have picked up some loose ballast or bits from the track, and it looks like I will have to invest in one of those micro battery powered hoovers mentioned in a thread elsewhere on this Forum - but can I purchase one direct from a retailer other than on Ebay as I am flying to the U.K. at the end of the month and would like to purchase one whilst over and carry it back in my cabin baggage case?.
Don't bother with the battery hoover.
Get your household beast, stick a sock or tights over the end and unleash it on the layout if you have loose ballast problems. It'll remove stuff while a battery hoover will at best pick off the loose bits.
In general if dust/grit is a problem due to location then you might want to look at the Tomix track cleaning car. It's got rough cleaning bads (don't use), soft ones (ok but not great) and a hoover mode (brilliant).
Alan
To Only Me - Thanks for the info - are there any pictures anywhere of the various drives so I can identify the ones I'm working on?
To EtchedPixels - After I made my post I remembered I had made a fine tube attachment to our small portable Hoover a number of years ago to remove "swarf" from the piston cylinders of my V8 Stag engine when I did a Head Gasket change and had to drill out some larger holes and fit "helicoils" to some aluminium bolt holes that had stripped their threads.
Managed to find it again and just used it and it is perfect & quite powerful (works off the mains).
Thinking that was one more job done I was just leaving my Store Room where my layout is housed when Disaster struck as when I came to lock the security gate that protects the door the key snapped in the lock as I was removing it!.
Now got to try and find a locksmith to probably drill the old lock out and fit a new one - so no more work on my layout for a while. Too late to find one today.