DR class BR 52 19-20

Returning to running order

As said the loco was advertised as a non-runner and that was the truth. I put it on the rails and turning on the power provoked no reaction whatsoever. The same advertisement stated its drive was probably "verharzt", crusted with old oil. If so that would be an easy fix.
	Disconnecting locomotive and tender is easy enough. There is no electrical connection between tender and locomotive, again showing the age of the model
	By carefully moving the sides of the tender apart the body can be taken off

	The motor is just clicked on in two brackets and can easily be removed
	The electrical clips are pinched off. Take care that the spring under the clip does not escape...
	and remove that spring carefully. I stored it in a box.

The brushes proved to sit rock solid in their respective holders. I soaked them with white spirit, drop by drop. After a while both moved freely. I replaced the spring and the clips and tested the motor. It ran flawlessly.
	Next I turned my attention to the gear trains to the bogies. I removed the bogie clips. I took extreme care not to force them too much as they rumoured to break easily.
	I checked all the gears. I was lucky: none was split.


I brushed the gears with white spirit. I everything back together again, oiled the gears and the axles sparingly and made a test run. It ran first time!
Finally I detached the superstructure of both locomotive and tender and gave them a good clean in soft soap with a brush, thus removing all fingerprints, grease and dust that had collected over the years.