How To Fix Them F-7 Power-Torque Tyco's 

Still, find your videos popping up now and then, I don't have to see them to watch, they just pop up for my enjoyment...Again Thanks, Ron.

😊 Ron you took the time to show the rest of us how to repair so many different types of trains and motors! I used this video as a reference to rebuild my childhood tyco/ mantua spirit of 76 locomotive. We recently sold my parents house and discovered some of my old trains in the cellar. I bought a spirit of 76 engine on ebay that was dead for parts and built a working locomotive. I would never have attempted it on my own but your video showed every syep so clearly so i gave it a shot. She runs beautifully now!! Thanks so much!! Tony G.😊

I've always been fearful of taking my power trucks apart! You've given me confidence that it can be done! Thanks!

I just inherited some Tyco trains,I was the slot car guy,my brother the train guy, it was 1978, I found this video very entertaining and very informative,keep up the great work.This actually makes the process more fun Thanks Ron

Super. Edit: I have one Powertorque drive locomotive left still operating on my railroad, out of seven bought brand new, some forty years ago, in which all but one got converted into dummy locomotives after they died during heavy service. I mixed parts and put the "Sharknose" ALCO trucks on my dummy GP-20, (And a dynamic brake from a Lionel GP-9.) so it is unique, but I also used the spare parts to turn the Baldwin RF-16 "Sharknose" diesel into a suedo Baldwin BP-20 Passenger Shark. I put two Powertorque drives in it, (dual motored.) added extra drive wheels for twelve wheel drive, filled in the slots for the traction tires, added window glass, extra details and lighting, and added three axle sideframes to it, and by some miracle it still runs fine to this day, however, I don't let it operate outside anymore. It will pull a twelve car heavyweight train up my grades, and has a nice patina from all the years of service which makes it look very realistic in front of that train, but I usually assign it to commuter service. Hello again from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

That has to be the one and only Cheryl Tiegs!!!! Somebody PLEASE take me back to my 1975 10 year old self, and my Tyco Chattanooga Choo Choo!!!

Thank you. I have 4 engines that needed this type of cleaning. Your tutorials are top notch

Thanks for your great how to videos.Really lets one know that these classic locos can be brought back to life!

Another great tutorial Ron! I like the tips about the wheels on the rolling stock and the cleaning of the track, not to mention the superb service you did on the F7 motor and wheels. Always doing a remarkable job my friend! By the way, 2.9 k followers? That’s a number! Congratulations!

I find these repair/refurbish videos to be very encouraging and rewarding. Thank you.

I am always amazed at how you revive these cheap HO trains. Great work!

Ron, really enjoy your videos. Nice to see someone else show some love to the more basic entry level stuff. Still have my childhood Tyco F7, circa 1975ish. Here is another tip for you - I like to test items with a 9V battery. Picked up some connectors, will snap one on a battery, then do a check with it. Just seems easier, and maybe a little safer, for me.

I got myself a set of three of those fiberglass pens after watching your ZW restoration video and lemme tell ya, absolute game changer when it comes to cleaning electronics!

Enjoy the channel tonight and have learned so much from you. Keep it up.

The lovely Cheryl Tiegs! It doesn't seem like it can be possible, but she just turned 71 and is still a stunner!

Thank you for the guidance on how to clean and re-lube the used motor and wheels. I never did any of the delicate disassembly or reassembly work, but the close ups make it easier to understand. I'm confident I'll be able to knock over an open bottle of mineral spirits as I've been in training and practicing without even trying for over six decades. Merry Christmas.

Your knowledge of the motors, their pieces and parts, and just how to refurbish them always amazes me Ron! Great restoration and great video! 👍🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍

Another great job. You know, I don't need to see the repetitive cleaning stuff but I enjoy a good before/after comparison of the results. It must be some sort of OCD but what can I say, it makes me feel good to see grungy non-operating equipment transformed into the best it can be!

Armature and commutator brushes look similar to the ones used in my old AFX slot cars. Used to use soft pencil erasers to clean the commutators. Great video.

The picture of the model you showed is none other than the beautiful Cheryl Tiegs!!

Way back when, I got a Tyco HO set as a Christmas present, and it was a similar vintage to this one! Mine had an SD9 and six freight cars, but the same loop of track with that little trestle set. The drive gear eventually stripped out, and we took it to someone at our local hobby shop who told us it wasn't worth repairing. So instead I got an Athearn SD45 to replace it. Probably still have both of them somewhere, along with a Bachmann 2-8-0. I left the hobby for quite a while; college and early work life took over. But when I re-entered the hobby I switched to N scale for space reasons. Really enjoyed this video. I don't plan to buy a train set again any time soon, but this was neat. As I mentioned above, there are a few folks in the hobby who don't consider these old Tycos worth fixing; glad to see that someone disagrees!

Great video. And the classic model Cheryl Tiegs!

Enjoying your vids! I've got my dad's Tyco sets my mom bought him for their first Christmas together. Now that I have watched your vid, I think I'll see about getting them running again. Also, try magnetizing your screwdrivers, then you don't have to chase screws around the room. ;)

Another great video. Many of us started out with TYCO way back in the day. I have never seen that model in my... OK wife walked away Cheryl Tiegs. And I had some of her posters. LOL

Good old Cheryl Tiegs. A beauty. That’s a nice Tyco set for $15. Thank you for the full cleaning demonstration. I have a few of those Tyco Squeal motors and you showed how to fix it. I appreciate it. Merry Christmas.

Hi Ron very nice tutorial on the Tyco and rolling stock. Merry Christmas to you and family

Ron I've been watching you for a minute my dad and brother passed they left me there entire collection of n scale and I never had a lay out I always took mine to there house to run but they did DC any pointers cause I can't afford DCC thanks for all ur great info watch your videos every morning

Love your videos Ron, even a beginner set is nice to own for someone thats been in the hobby :) I love buying things I need to fix as it gives me something to do

Cheryl Tiegs- classic beauty! Oh, judging from the comments I’m a bit slow responding, but in good company as quite a few fellers know who she is, so we must be around the same age roughly speaking. You do make a fine and interesting video, Ron.

What a great video. I've been thinking about getting back into the hobby. I was a big O Guage guy for years. I'd really like to get back into it with some of those old Tyco sets. Thanks!

Wow this is a very good video. Thank you for sharing with us!!!!

Little inside information. On the Tyco F Units, the Walthers/ Athearn diesel dress up kit for Athearn F7s also will work well in your Tyco F7s. Even though Tyco called them F9s they are really F7s, F9s have a set of louvers between the cab and front porthole window. Now if you want a nice budget F9 to run on your layout, look for the old PlayArt ones, and yes they have those louvers. Happy model railroading!

Cheryl Tieg? Oh yeah. I really like the closeups on the disassemblies and maintenance. Need more light! Closer!

Neat tutorial Ron.

Awesome restoration!!!!! I've been eyeballing the track cleaning tool. Thanks!!!!! 👍✌️

This was another great video, i got a starter set and did the same thing just to remember what the fun was like

Awesome tutorial on the power torque! Thanks!

Tip: Buy on a swap-meet also broken models, and save from them screws, springs, wheels, couplings and so on. In case you launch a screw or spring.... (N screws and springs are hard to find in the carpet...) ;-)

Love your videos. A lot of model railroaders talk crap about tyco will a braodway limited work when it's 45 years old . I am an old rivarossi and artheans blue box fan I have a few typos with power torque models I converted to dcc with sound just as much fun as running a 500$ locomotive. Keep up the good videos. Merry Christmas

Hi Ron, just found your channel after looking to get all of my old trains to play nice with my sons new models. I have learned quite a bit from your videos, and you remind me of Derek at VGG, with your wordage! Thanks so much, have a happy new year.

A power torque is a good starting point for any beginner. I've go more than one on duty here. I've got a couple tricks I do with them cuz I lean on the old girls. I squeeze a little keyway mark on the output shaft&put 2 output gears on it. Facing each other so when the second gear wants to walk over,it won't strip out. Cuz of monster consist&multiple power lashes. Still on board Ron🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

another nice restoration ron keep up the great work love those old cheap locomotives pick them up for next to nothing because nobody wants them i have a few hundred of many different types

you have all the luck.every set i have looked at , they start at 75-100 dollars. well i am off to set up bachmann "N" scale holiday train i will catch the next video later merry christmas

Ron such a GRRRATE thing your doing I've been "Collecting " for yrs in hopes of someday having a layout In my Grandpa honor I'm gonna restore my 1st 2 rail American Flyer and a Christmas Scene. My Best to you & yours for a Fantastic & Merry Merry Christmas.

Nice video Ron Merry Christmas 🌲

Awesome primer for cleaning Tyco and basic entry level trains!! Great deal for that set!!!I always put my open isopropyl alcohol bottle for cleaning in a place where I can knock it over! That’s SOP! Great work Ron, love all you videos. This may sound counter intuitive as it may generate completion for purchasing items but maybe an into to buying online video? What to look for when viewing eBay or Goodwill type sites. Just a thought! Again all the best and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and you Family, and to everyone out there!!

Cheryl Tiegs models trains!!! She could sell that 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for your thoroughly detailed videos. Others will speed up the mechanical parts and that's where beginners need the most instructions😀👍 Merry Christmas to you and yours🎄☃️🎅👍🎄🚂🚂🚂

Some of those older Mantua Tyco locomotives have that bottom plate riveted to the metal wheel/motor blocks, so it's difficult to get to the wheels and axles. Another thing these suffer from is cracked wheels, especially the plastic wheels

If you had to clean a lot of locomotive wheels, the Dremel no. 428-02 would make short work of the brass wheels in no time flat. The 428-02 is a wire wheel brush but it is in no way very aggressive at all, it is a polisher, and at 10K rpm, it would only take about one pass around the wheel to remove the tarnish.

I use my cordless Dremel with fine brass wire wheel. The thing I hate the most about power torque motors tyco made is the casting. The pin off the main drive gear snaps off. Have to find proper polished pin to fit the big gear. Once you find the right pin you have to carefully drill cast pin out and fit new aftermarket (lol) custom pin in place along with some epoxy. I gotten a few tyco engines with same problem.

One of the first model train locomotives I got used was a power-torque Santa Fe U630 with a bunch of cars (no track) for $7.00 at a yard sale. That thing smelled so bad and made a loud noise. It couldn't even move when I tried to have my other engine push it. Not to mention it looked ugly and the handrails were awful to keep together. I ended up getting more better locomotives and used that Santa Fe engine as a parts source when the other Power-Torque locomotive I had burnt out (I turned that Bicentennial locomotive into a dummy unit)

When I was in ho I used to use a bright boy track cleaning block to clean the wheels of my locomotive nice shiny b r i t e.

Shiny as Cheryl...

When You Model Railroad you do Not RushPerfection you Work slowly At It.when You Model Railroad get the Information do your Homework Don’t Rush the Home work trust me This Is The Best Home work you can Do. If you Have a Friend into Model Railroading get Into his Head and Understand what he Says, if you Want to Join a Train Club Nothing wrong with that. If You still Need Help Bring a Friend to A Train shop. And Get Your head Into the Best Hobby and Indulge.Nothing Wrong With Getting TrainTarded once you have Done your Homework Then Go to Town and Build Slowly and All Will work out Awsome. May the Force Be With you when building your Layout and Remember you ARE The Biggest Crittic You have to Make Happy.they Don’t like it Tough Rails.

Have you repaired a Tyco Plymouth Switcher? I’d enjoy a video on that. I have 3 in various stages and I’m trying to put on Kadee couplers as well. The body holes also stripped on some of them. I’m enjoying your videos. Thanks!

Try some pipe cleaners in lieu of Q tips. They last longer, can be bent into any shape you need (even doubled over for more thickness + extra strength) and leave less fuzzies and lint behind. Some are nylon or have synthetic bristles and are even cleaner.

Cheryl Ladd or Cheryl Tiegs? Nice video! Very useful!

Around here scrounging through Craigslist every now and then a lot of people like to use the term "vintage" in order to get more money out of it but they don't realize that there's GOOD vintage and then there's what Tyco put out as vintage, $15 for the set though is a good pickup

Hi Ron, been checking out your channel for a few months now, i'm an O Gauge Railroader, I like your Quacky humor, and the repairs are awsome, I subscribed. I have a channel as well but lousy at making them😂

Great video, these sets were fun back in the day. If I never moved and had to give up my over and under set I probably would of never left house and eventually been able to get a girlfriend later on. Phew.

Great video my friend.

Cheryl Tiegs!

At least that's good to know. It's too bad the PowerTorque drive was what practically killed TYCO's model train line.

Will the truck assemblies fit in the engine in the rear as well as the front? It seems like you could add dual motors and rear drive with some spare parts and a bit of wire.

I had a Tyco Civil War era "General" . Do you ever run into those sets? Another great video Ron. Thanks

im not shure but the german marklin trains use the same type of brushes and are always new available. If the thickness is the same you could replace them for a few dollars because they cost next to nothing.

Tyco is a thing now. Use to be cheap when I was growing up. Not anymore!

For someone who collects sets - is it better to collect sets without the track if you already have plenty of track?

How do you remagnetize the magnets in them when they get bad?

Cheryl Tiegs is this episodes Classic Model

Cheryl Tiegs

What do you use to clean the wheels with other than a fiber pencil

Wow that engine was dirty!

Cheryl Tiegs.

15 bucks for a whole TYCO set?! Also what do you use for replacement traction tyres? Nice grab and Revival:)

I think classic model was Cheryl Tiegs

So I recently did my first restoration on a tyco Santa Fe GP20 and I got it to work now but it’s sparks very much, is their something I need to do to fix that or is it just very old?

where do you get your parts for these power torques

I’m not sure if Model Railroading is making a comeback or if it’s just I’ve gotten more involved in it so it just seems like there’s more people enjoying it… Anyway, it seems that a company like TYCO, could make a comeback. Just thinking out loud… Or out post…whatever LOL

It's expensive if you live in Honolulu Hawaii non train people buy these at auction. Storage locker's and yeah u know the rest

solamente conteudo mui bueno hermano

anyway... ...so I gots the Super Lube, Labelle combo pack & Fiberglass pencils are en route ......umm, btw, weird are the results when one GooGoo's "What's the Best Lube?" 🙄 .........but seriously, can I use the $1 store "cotton swabs", or do they need to be "Q-Tips"???

What do you think of Bachnann Easy track?

Cheryl tiggs

At the fleabay prices for these TYCO models, you might as well start as a pro. Ebay wants $75 to $300 for used TYCO sets that probably don't even work. Thanks to the expensive quality models, eBay scammers think TYCO is worth something.

Cheryle Tiegs???

the model is charlies angels sherral ladd

Is that Twiggy?

Bo Derek

When Cleaning wife’s And My track I Get Some sand Paper and Use it my Layout and It’s clean.

“;-)” Awsum!!!!!!!!!🚂👍

twiggy

Another bad thing about truesteel track Besides being a poor conducting track and throws up a lot of Sparks and as a tendency to but you could make a non-powered abandoned citing using this track.....

Hablar en español

11:13 Growing up, I didn't concern myself with celebrities, which does include models, even the super ones. I found it rather ridiculous that people should devote a portion of their memory, and waste time and energy staying on top of various gossip which inevitably surrounds anyone famous. Why have an obsession over some stranger who you'll never know because most of the time, most celebrities are putting on a front, a show, they are wearing a mask? Besides that, most people will never meet the celebrity they are obsessing over, and even if they do, it won't likely be a lengthy, and meaningful, or significant, exchange of ideas or information where some elements of who that person is underneath their mask. So, it just seemed like utter lunacy to give much mind to the famous ones; they are famous enough without my idolizing. Yet, without intent, some information, knowledge, and awareness become implanted in one's memory, not by choice, but more by the choices made by the majority. When the majority likes something enough, then that something tends to be around a whole hell of a lot, whether that thing be a song, a book, a trendy drink, a fab diet, a fashionable accoutrement, or any number of other things. When something is popular, even when you are not part of the crowd which delivered the popularity to the thing, you will be exposed to it quite frequently, and one will not be able to prevent some awareness from developing. So, if my unintentional memory serves me, I believe that is Cheryl Tiegs . . . but I could easily be mistaken!

I have to take a double take when I start to view your Video, you just don't look the same. (Smiling)

I have a Life-like F7 A unit from 1982 and it's got a pancake motor. I want to change out the couplers and motor how do I do that?

Cheryl Tiegs

Cheryl Tiegs

Cheryl Tiegs