This Old Motor Bogie: How To Refurbish LEGO 9V Train Motors

The article focuses on refurbishing and maintaining LEGO 9V train motor bogies, which are becoming increasingly difficult to find and expensive on the used market. The author aims to guide LEGO train enthusiasts in restoring these essential components, extending their lifespan and ensuring reliable performance for their layouts. This guide is part of a larger project at Fx Bricks, which is developing a replacement for the LEGO 9V motor bogie.

Fx Bricks utilizes a "test fleet" of approximately 20 LEGO 9V motor bogies to assess performance and inform design choices. They have a five-track test layout with nested loops ranging from 56 to 120 studs radius, including interconnected crossovers. This setup allows for testing trains across various track geometries, ensuring consistent performance. The layout is controlled manually or automated by a dedicated computer test rack, with each loop independently powered and equipped with trackside sensors to measure distance and speed. Custom software tools configure each loop and perform both manual and automated test runs, acquiring real-time data on voltage, current, power, speed, and more.

To demonstrate the refurbishment process, the author conducted performance tests on 18 LEGO 9V motors. Each motor was operated at a fixed voltage and time interval in both directions on an R72 radius track loop. The data collected includes thousands of time-stamped measurements from various sensors, providing a comprehensive analysis of the motor's performance. The article highlights the importance of disassembly, cleaning, testing, and rebuilding to restore the motors to optimal working condition.

For LEGO train enthusiasts looking to maintain their 9V train motors, this article provides a valuable guide. If you're working with older LEGO train sets, you might find a brick separator helpful for disassembling and cleaning the motors.