Wow what a nice project! An aurora '63 Galaxie like this just gives off a look of such the kind, that you just want own it forever! This chassis is so well restored, I could almost feel it screaming in my hands when tested on transformer. I love watching this go around track.
I believe it is important to maintain magnets that are compatible with the motor. You could buy new commutator brushes that are thicker that will increase the tension on the bottom of the Armature. Or carefully press the contact Point down deeper into the holes so the contact against the Armature stronger. They have new commutator brushes that have a v slot in them that are thicker than the originals and I would recommend using those prior to the bending the contact points. I hope this helps. You can buy them from a seller called rather boring on eBay.
Thank you for the detailed information. Very handy. I have bought and sold some slot cars over the years and recently decided I need to start running them. Will put your instructions to good use.
EDI: (Awesome) Nice track, thanks for sharing. 10:48 I was gifted a 1967 MM Super Skyway track from relative with the mountain and 6 cars. The prices to restore them for each individual part is ridiculous IMHO right now. I just got 2 excellent MM steering wheels and will be messing with it more after I get some parts. My problem is not being able to find the .250 rear wheels, they are different from the fronts. I used the old red oil from 1967 on the first car and it stunk up the room...LOL Modern lubrication for me now.
Get a HO train track cleaner/ eraser to clean armature and then use eraser. Brake clean works for cleaning. The floss is a great Idea. Brushes need oil removed from them. Hold them with a tweezer and then "burn" them with a lighter. Clean them on the eraser now.
Have you ever boiled a chassis and all of the copper in a bath of vinegar and water 1 cuo each with a tablespoon of salt? It cleans all of it in about 15 seconds.
Hi James, great videos... thanks for sharing. I have a couple of questions, please. I have a Tjet set from my childhood in the 60's and plan to set it up for my grandson. Regarding power, I have the old transformer like yours. Am I understanding that even for a small starter set to use separate transformers, or should I stay with just the original? Also my set has the thumb button controllers....can I buy the steering wheel type controllers on ebay, or do I need to stay with the original controls? I will need to buy a bunch of spares, tires and hop up kits. Do you have a favorite supplier? Thanks very much, Ken
One Transformer will be fine. And the controllers you have should be fine as long as they function. You can definitely buy steering wheel controllers if you want to however yours are more modern. Two Transformers will give more consistent power to each lane. You can also buy more modern controllers, cut the plugs off and then use the wires like you would for your plunger controllers.
You can also buy more modern Transformers and also cut the plugs off from the ends and then use the wires like you would from the old type of Transformer. That is actually what I do.
@@jamesdignan145 Hi James, thanks very much for your quick responses!! So just to clarify, even in my rather small set up, a separate transformer for each lane will not hurt anything and may help performance. I am thinking that you mean a small dc transformer with max out put of 20 volts, and how many amps? Thanks so much. I have watched all of your videos and really appreciate the quality of your information and it's presentation. Your track is awesome!
@@kensmith9071 Two Transformers will definitely help any layout. It is nice for each lane to have its own individual Transformer. Regardless of the size of the layout.
I will now pick up the toothbrush, I will now hold the toothbrush, I will now move the toothbrush back and forth, geez how many times did you say I will now
I have several older 1960's T-Jet 500 cars that run, but really slow. Is it the magnets being weak that make them run slower now that they are older? Can you buy new magnets for these older cars?
Beautiful layout. I love the hills and single lane. That's Aurora? I have Lifelike which is good track but does not have those two features. I may need to fashion an adapter piece from the two.
Thanks for the cool comment. Yes, it is original Aurora track. From the 1960s. There's a guy on eBay called rather boring who sells single Lane new track.
@@jamesdignan145 FYI- the vendor "RatherBoring" on ebay, is Harrison Woodrow, the Owner Of Model Motoring Inc, who produces all the Aurora T-Jet and Vibe type parts he is selling, as well as the track and the unique T-Jet type bodies.