Took my deceased father's non-working 1942 Marx train out of storage, followed the steps in your video and now the train works like a charm. Enjoying it with my kids. Just wanted you to know that you're still helping people with this video years after posting it.

I just want you to know, your video got my Commodore Vanderbilt running! I'd gotten it in a lot of cars I bid on and was completely stiffened up. Your video helped me so much! Thank you! I've been enjoying my new engine all day!

I just used your video to clean the 1941 Marx engine my father-in-law gave to my son. We never used it as much as we wanted to because it was so loud. It's now running like new. Thanks!

I just dug out my few Marx engines for the first time in several years, and they weren't showing many signs of life... so I did everything in this video on them and they're running great! (Or at least as well as they can on the rusty old tracks I use.) Huge thanks! One of them is my dad's old Marx 666 he got from a friend when he was a kid (and apparently never used) so he'd probably like to see it up and running the way it is (also puffing smoke like it's supposed to).

Thanks for this!!! I just did it to my Marx 999 and now it runs great. A little quieter as well.

I bought a Marx 666 Train Set on EBAY to replace a set I had as a boy. Looked very good with minimal wear, but it would sometimes stop and was slow and jerky. Also the wheels sparked on the track quite a bit. Some of the tracks had some minor rust and the connector pins had some corrosion. I cleaned up the tracks and connector pins with aluminum foil and followed the instructions provided in your video. Was easy and worked like a champ. Can't take the corners at full speed any more. Thank you very much!

Peter, this is a really helpful video. Doing your maintenance routine will improve lots of the motors I have. You sound like a good guy! God bless you too!

@patrickfrawley8705

6 жыл бұрын

Ken Lua where do get buy mineral spirits from does wd40 work better than grease

@elvisslo

6 жыл бұрын

@@patrickfrawley8705 Hi Patrick, I get mineral spirits from the hardware store in the paint section. I've heard it's not good to use WD40 on the locomotives due to it being simply a solvent and not having much lubricating properties? I still use WD40 to initially loosen up some sticky motors and it seem to help. After I wipe most of the WD40 and lubricate the wheels with light machine oil and the gears with whatever grease I have on hand. I think the key is to use very little of everything because a little goes a long way on these little motors.

So I got a box set last fall for my birthday, quant little thing, but she was really slow to start (had to up the power to medium to get it to move!) I’ve gotten most of the supplies, cleaned the track, wheels, and pickup already. Already a big help, figure on doing the motor tomorrow. Really a helpful video, thanks

Thank you very much. You answered lots and lots of questions!

Good job, Peter! Loved the vid, very helpful!

I have this same one that needed service, thank you for making this video

Going to go through my my dad's Marx set, i have a 3000 locomotive no operational right. My 9 year old and i are going go through and do this maintenance to hope to get it going again. Thanks for all the information and how to!

Completed all these steps. I have power to the motor, but still does not operate on early 50s Marx Diesel. Will tear it back down and see if I can get the motor operating without spinning the wheels and go from there. Great video! I'll get it there!

thanks great job ( Doug in GA 🐈 ) have fun

Very good and helpful information. Much appreciated.

Good video. Just bought a couple of MARX engines and this will be a big help. Thx

we just got a Marx copper Mercury that needs this done to it I never thought of taking the commutator cover off, good idea

Great job!

Thanks for the very informative video. The best on the tube! Lou from Canada

@benztrainz9030

6 жыл бұрын

really ???

@sweetlou5902

6 жыл бұрын

BENZ TRAINZ sorry that reply was when i was first starting out pal... it was the best at the time!

@thesierrastandard7281

6 жыл бұрын

Whats your technique? Because I think this was a fine job. Fixed a lot of my old Marx without bypassing the E-Unit.

@sweetlou5902

6 жыл бұрын

I repair them personally

Great video...thanks!

Great video. Really helpful technique. I have a small Marx E375 Steam Locomotive and the drive rods are kinda rusted with some rust found around the old joints and need to replace the wheels. Also, would like to replace the battery power with track power

well put !

Helped me out, but my main issue is that the copper contact has actually worn away over time, so it doesn't make great contact. Been told it was very loved and used a ton and it shows. How would I fix this?

Good film. This was a special Marx loco called The Jubilee. It was different from most Marx CP locos because of the front of boiler marker lights, 391 cab number, side cooling tubes, raised hand rail which does not loop under the front of the boiler, small raised stack, bell, and cross-heads. When they are not all scratched, they are quite beautiful

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Yeah. It is a beauty! I love my CPs and Jubilees because they are the most like my favorite loco, the Canadian Pacific F1a Jubilee type. I am still wondering about that motor though. It is postwar with prewar wheels! I wonder if it is very rare or something...

@chiconian49

8 жыл бұрын

You only have to remove two screws to swap out a motor. I imagine that there are many Marx locos out their with incorrect motors, however they run just fine. Only us operators and collectors notice the difference.

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Lance Boil I think the motor might be rare. My theory is that Marx had a bunch of prewar wheels that they made before the war left over and they put it on a new motor. I actually got a steam loco Marx motor that someone converted it so it would fit in a diesel. I put it onto a M10000 shell and it works very well!

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

+Streamlined Steamroller M10000!

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Railfan346 They made two versions of that set. They had the M-10000s which were bigger and more realistic. They also had the M-10005 which was cheaper. They made both of them prewar but only the M-10005 sets were made after the war.

I use strike hold weapons, auto, marine and communications cleaner. Contains tetrachloroethylene, use in ventilated area. Gun oil for bearings and other parts, white lithium grease for gears or vaseline. You can use gun grease as well since it will not gum up the works. When you finish cleaning your locomotive you can then lube your favorite firearm. I also use auto shop towels and and compressed air, the canned type dusters work very well.

Hi. Great video. Interestingly my motor spins great (I can see it spinning super fast inside), but very little torque is being transferred to the main drive shaft. If I lift the train off the track and run it manually with wires the wheels spin fast, but if I put the train on the track, there isn't enough torque to make the train move. After taking it apart, i see the drive shaft spins freely within the commutator. I'm guessing it should be rigidly attached to the commutator. Any ideas?

Great video. Peter, I can across a "Stream Line Steam type" locomotive. Do you think it is a Marx motor?

Thanks ! Just bought a 1666 to replace the one I had as kid. Smoke doesn't work I'm assuming burned out heater elmnt. Could use a good maint run. Very helpful Thumb'd up

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! The smoke unit is a bit tricky to repair. The unit could be dry and just needs some more fluid. If the unit is truly burnt out, there is someone who makes replacement elements for the smoke unit. It is a bit difficult to get to them. Those smoke units are held together with peened over posts that are on one half of the unit. The other half has holes that the pins fit through and are peened over. To open the unit, you have to unpeen the pins. You have to be careful as you don't want these to break off. When you put the unit back together, it is a good idea to use some headgasket sealant to avoid leakage. I hope this helps!

nice i subed

I have the same engine but the bottom doesnt look like that. It's there a prewar model?

I want to replace the power cord in a Marx model 309, 25 Wyatt transformer. I have it apart no problem but don’t know where two thin Bakelite strips go. - they fell out when I was taking it apart but don’t know where hey belong during reassembly?

I got a Marx 400 from eBay. The gears are a little different, a driven gear between 2 followers. Decided to clean it because on the track it stopped running and buzzes and gets hot when running. I put the brush plate back on and now it's like the gears are jammed. No movement. I loosen the plate and it can move in one direction but not the other because it's loose and jams. Any tips?

What does it mean when your wheels turn freely when yo take it out of the box but then get real tight and the train stops turning a few minutes later as it begins to heat up. When hot the wheels are hard to turn.

Do you have any video of working on a Marx 400?

I have one of these from my grandfather that doesn't work, I know the transformer does but do you know how to fix it. It has not ran for at least 50 years

Thanks for the very well done video. I have an old Marx train set from 1948-9 that still resides in the original box that it was mailed in. It needs servicing, and now I can attack it with confidence. In 1946 I had ruined my brother's Lionel by drowning it in oil. :(

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help! Sorry to hear that about the Lionel.

Good sound inbut helped me work on my Train it's old

Thanks man this make it sooo much easier for me to service my marx engine!! I hope to make a before and after video of it! Also I am planning to buy a ex condition lionel 221 loco! All I have to do is find a tender for it. Also THANK YOU for making this video!!!!

@daylightbigboy

9 жыл бұрын

Ricky Bobby I'm glad it helped you! The 221 looks like a nice engine. If only they had smoke! Someday I will have to do a How to Service Lionel Trains Video. They are a little more complex than Marx and require some reverse unit work most of the time.

@The20thCenturyLimited

9 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller Yea Im planning on getting it maybe tomorrow but most likely on the weekend. A smoke vid would be cool too. I will probably get a tmcc system and get rid of the e unit in the postwar trains and replace it with a tmcc board. Maybe

@daylightbigboy

9 жыл бұрын

Ricky Bobby Tmcc in my opinion just ruins the toy feeling of postwar trains. Keep the origional e unit, I'll make a video of that sometime. Some people say e units don't work well, but they are wrong. E units work fine, even better than electronic ones in some cases.

@The20thCenturyLimited

9 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller Yea I would like to get tmcc but I don't have any money so it wont be happening anytime soon! LOL I would love to see a video of that but no rush.

@daylightbigboy

9 жыл бұрын

Yeah. I am in sort of an economic slump now and I can't seem to earn money very quickly so it might be a while before I get another Lionel to work on. I have been wondering, which of these locos should I get first: Marx 333, Marx 1998, or Lionel 1656?

I have a 1950s era Marx 5620. My engine has no brush plate to remove. How can I get to the brushes?

thats a fun ride ha i just cleaned lionel they sat for 5 years but oil that was the cleaner than add more are you pissed ya they where postwar i love how you think im 52 years old and see it the same way oil and run till they die than rebuild thats the fun part

How do you change the wheels? Because my commodore vanderbilts wheel has a gear with some missing teeth

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

A gear puller is the best tool for that. I use a modified faucet puller due to its ability to work in small spaces.

I recently bought a Marx 1998 S3. There are no obvious screws in sight, except for the ones holding in the front wheels. The shell appears to be held on by plastic nails. Do you know how to get the shell off without destroying the plastic nail? Thanks

@daylightbigboy

6 жыл бұрын

Andrew Wilson I don't believe I've ever taken the shell off of my 1998 but I'll take a look later tonight and I'll get back to you.

@daylightbigboy

6 жыл бұрын

Ok, I just took a look at my 1998 and there are two screws by where the screw that holds on the front truck. Undo these two screws and push the whole motor twards the front of the locomotive and hinge it out. Hope this helps!

@andrewwilson5631

6 жыл бұрын

Ok thanks a lot. I got it apart. Knowing me, I probably would have broken something if you didn't help me!

@daylightbigboy

6 жыл бұрын

Andrew Wilson Yeah, I know that feeling. Feels nice to break a step off of an HO brass steamer, lol. Glad it helped!

I use non-chlorinated brake parks cleaner. I thought , if it cleans auto brakes it should clean all the gunk & grime off marx and lionel loco wheels happy railroading!

This is like oiling a real locomotive!

Sometimes when I run the train, the wheels randomly spark. Is that just bad wheel conductivity? How can I fix that?

@daylightbigboy

6 жыл бұрын

Andrew Wilson It's a bad connection between wheels and track, clean the wheels with some mineral spirits and a paper towel

@patrickcudzilo8235

6 жыл бұрын

yea, mine is doing the same, but it makes it change direction

Hello! I have a Marx 999 and i followed your steps and its working much much better. But, when it pulls the tender the wheels skid and it goes nowhere. If you know why its doing that please respond thank you!

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

Sounds like the tender truck frames are bent inwards to the point where they are touching the wheels and keeping them from rolling. Simply bend the frames outward a little bit so that there is enough clearance between the truck frames and the wheels. A drop of oil could also do some good. Hope this helps!

@thesierrastandard7281

7 жыл бұрын

It didn't work :( but i just made a video a few minutes ago recording my train failing. So if you know what it is just comment back please thank you!

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

DerpyRambo Sorry it's been a while, but anywho, is there any rust? I'll take a look at the video.

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

DerpyRambo Oh, I see the issue now. I saw the video and your problem is an incredibly simple fix. Simply bend the tender's connection to the loco slightly down. The tender connection is too high and when you put the loco on it, it lifts the loco and driving wheels off the track preventing traction.

@patrickfrawley8705

6 жыл бұрын

What's the Difference Marx 999 and 666

Actually the Marx instructions says. " Do not use oil", they say to use Vaseline, or grease. The grease that you had there would be a better choice. No matter how little you use, it gets thrown into the armature, and reverse unit. I use Vaseline and have not had any issue with lack of lubrication.

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

I've never had a problem with that. Oil in a seringe applicator is what I always use and I have never had that problem.

@ronstrainroom6060

2 жыл бұрын

I agree, oil can degrade your parts. Vaseline is the recommended choice.

I like the train

@harrysacks8735

5 жыл бұрын

I like the train

@atomicflower6906

5 жыл бұрын

Train the I like

@harrysacks8735

5 жыл бұрын

Daya Vazqyerz

If anyone is missing the brushes or need new brushes you can make custom brushes check out practical fixes video

That engine might have been restored, that would explain the bigger bolts and the pre war wheels, but idk

Is a 14-18 volt lightbulb the same one in a 681?

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Yep.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller Ok. Do you know where to find one?

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Railfan346 Electronics store. (Radio shack, frys, etc.)

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Ok.

What's the best way to clean 027 track?

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

Abrasive cleaning block

@thesierrastandard7281

7 жыл бұрын

What?

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

King Wasabi​ You can find them at hobby stores. You could also use sandpaper but that doesn't work as well.

I used your video to lube and clean my found 666 steam engine. Motor drive wheels are frozen. What do I need to do now.

My locomotive runs in reverse only in spite of resetting. How do you fix this ?

@daylightbigboy

5 жыл бұрын

Your reverse unit is stuck, they can be tricky. I'd spray a bunch of contact cleaning spray into the reverse unit and see if that helps. If not, oil the solenoid plunger.

@brianfogo477

5 жыл бұрын

@@daylightbigboy Ok. Thanks.

where do you get the light bulb at?

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

cmullins463 They are a standard 14 volt (18 volt for Lionel) screw in bulb found at most electronic stores. I get my light bulbs at train shows and electronic stores.

@youtuuba

4 жыл бұрын

I get mine at my local Batteries+Bulbs store; that's what they are good for.....replacing hard to get vintage batteries and bulbs.

I'm used to using alcohol to clean the commutator. Is mineral spirits better than alcohol?

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

I haven't tried both but they should be about the same. Maybe the mineral spirits are a bit better but I can't call it.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

+LJ Liberto Rubbing alcohol is mostly reccomended. I used rubbing alcohol while servicing my 1656 and 1656 runs a little better than the engine in this video!

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Railfan346 Dude, that's a Lionel. The loco here is a Marx. A Lionel will always run better than a Marx. I haven't tried both but I want to so I can see what is better.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller Well the servicing is similar, but ok.

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

Actually, mineral spirits absorb more gunk and get it off better than rubbing alcohol

my grandpa has a lionel 999 that runs well when I run it, It might be really strong to pull the tender, and it works without the tender.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Eh... I don't think that's a Lionel.

On baring on sides with bushing there is a felt pad that is for holding oil for the info

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

+Christopher Bradley Yes it is! Marx was smart in doing that. I think they were the first to use oil wicking. The oil actually stays in the bearing resulting in less frequent oiling.

@christopherbradley4829

8 жыл бұрын

ok

@martinderouin5548

7 жыл бұрын

Instead of a tooth pick to lift up the brush spings, it is much easier to use a paper clip with a small bend in it to reach in and lift the spring up..Marty

I also think you should make a video showing how to service Lionel postwar trains so I can service 675 correctly.

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

The process is very similar except you have to do some work on the reverse unit in Lionel trains. Most of the time, all you have to do is spray some contact cleaning spray into it but sometimes you have to pull apart the e-unit and bend the fingers back into place so that they can read the drum. If the e-unit works perfectly when you get it, I would suggest not messing with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller Sounds good!

@ZachK_Trains

8 жыл бұрын

+Railfan346 If you need some information on how to service your 675 I can help you out. I have a 2025 (identical to the 675) that I had to completely rewire and clean the motor so I know the engine pretty well!

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

***** Did you have to rewind the coil? Or just redo all the wiring to the motor? I got a 2338 that had the horn relay removed and the wires that were soldered there were twisted together with twist cones. In addition, all the wires to the motor were cut. Took a bit but it's all back together. I've heard old standard gauge manual reverse have some pretty complicated wiring.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

***** I don't think I will need to. Just some oil.

where can I get the menrail oil at?

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

cmullins463 Hardware stores. It's also market as paint thinner

@youtuuba

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, for some reason all the hardware stores I visit carry "paint thinner" but nothing labeled as "mineral spirits"; this makes it difficult, because I have to carefully read the fine print on the "paint thinner" cans to see if it is mineral spirits paint thinner or some other kind of paint thinner. Make sure you don't go in looking for what you wrote, "mineral OIL", which is a laxative for people to drink and is sold in drug stores...NOT the same thing as mineral SPIRITS. But really, lots of things are OK to use when cleaning the parts shown in this video; I just use isopropyl alcohol when I clean mine, works just fine. You might want to avoid acetone for this, but something like MEK might also be OK, but it is more hazardous to the person using it. Mineral spirits or alcohol are pretty safe.

Is 91% Ispropyl alcohol recommended as well?

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

It'll work but mineral spirits gets oil and grime off easier.

Not addressing the reversing circuit... the one thing I need to see.

where do you get the grease at?

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

cmullins463 Hardware stores

@HARRYRABBITvmkname

7 жыл бұрын

Marx recommends Vasoline Petroleum Jelly, not grease. eBay has a market for trains. Oil & bulbs can be found there. Marx train parts can be found here, too. trainpartsformarx.com/

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

Sly Coyote I use regular grease all the time and it works great. Petroleum Jelly will just dry up and clog the gears. I can get parts but thanks for the link!

@youtuuba

4 жыл бұрын

@@HARRYRABBITvmkname , I inherited a Marx set from 1938 or 1939, which included a model 391 loco like the one in this video. My father had lubed it using Vaseline, and it really messed it up. It melts at too low a temperature and runs all over once the motor warms up, leaving the important points unlubricated. Luckily I was able to take the motor apart and carefully clean the remaining Vaseline and re-lube with modern silicone oil and grease. Now it runs like a top and the lube stays where it is supposed to be.

I am just asking how would service 400 marx train?

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

cmullins463 As I remember correctly, those have the non-separable motors. The way to clean it is get some mineral spirits on a Q tip and clean the commutator through the hole in the side of the motor. Clean the brushes and lubricate the unit the same way as shown in this video.

@patrickfrawley8705

6 жыл бұрын

Peter Ronney is Marx 400 is same 490 that number of my engine

can you do a video how to take wheels off.

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Well, I don't have any locos that need that done to them. What seems to be the problem with your loco? You may not need to remove the wheels.

@elprincipe1

8 жыл бұрын

would like to learn how to remove wheels..

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Elprincipe Hector Ok then. You need a device called a gear puller. I use a modified faucet puller due to its ability to pull with such a small clearance between the back of the wheels and the rest of the motor. I hope this helps!

Something else to mention, you don't have to use minosphere (however you spell it), rubbing alcohol works just as good. (For other viewers)

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Rubbing alcohol works bit not nearly as well as mineral spirits.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller It still works though. 1656 probably will run well when I run it again.

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Railfan346 ok

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller DA! Rubbing alcohol is superior!

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Railfan346 No. Mineral spirits is far superior.

Marx engines had the reputation “so simple your brother can fix it”. Oh…what was the “last” step?? 🤓

the light on my grandpas lionel 99 doesn't work but it takes a different light

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Lionel 99? I am unfamiliar with that loco. I believe it is a very old loco, possibly a 1920s era loco. It may take a different bulb.

@gogetgarfield4norealreason424

8 жыл бұрын

sorry, streamlined steamroller, I meant lionel 999

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Michael trainboy99 Ah, ok. That is a great loco. Looks good with 6 inch litho and 3/16" scale cars.

can you help me with problems on my 736

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Sure! what's the issue?

@daylight-jp6ei

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller well the motor makes a wierd squeaking sound when i run it, its reverse sucks as it goes really slow then stops, and the tender keeps derailing on curves

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

royalrailfan41 Needs servicing. Do the same as seen in this video and spray some contact cleaning spray into the motor.

@daylight-jp6ei

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller k thnx

Where do get mineral spirits

And you couldn't show us what you hooked the leads up to? 🤔

You need a 0 ring pick .

Which set would you prefer? Trying to decide between them. www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_8&products_id=288513 www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_8&products_id=269975 www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_8&products_id=267009 www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_8&products_id=278293

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

+Railfan346 The last one.

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller Well I don't wanna take any 736s off the market, and I already have a berk.

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Railfan346 Oh. Then the 2065 set! I might even get the berk set for Christmas!

@Benry2

8 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller Maybe.

@daylightbigboy

8 жыл бұрын

Railfan346 What I really want is a Seaboard Lionel Legacy RS -11.

I use Vaseline jelly , but a very light coating because it attracts dust , hair, and dirt . Marx....Marx....I love Marx and Groucho , but not Karl .

I have many Marx and I'm sorry but this is a little sloppy job 🤔food for thought

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

No offence or anything but how exactly was I sloppy? Not quite sure how this was sloppy and how to make it neater.

@blakebergersen296

7 жыл бұрын

Streamlined Steamroller first these trains are classic and some antique.when they painted these they used thin coats with a varnish( clear coat)and paint thinner can eat though that paint and varnish very quickly Ps the whole train is sensitive at its age and I keep my locomotives as clean as possible and safe from more paint loss than they have already had

@daylightbigboy

7 жыл бұрын

1960 Nash Metropolitan First off, I don't get paint thinner on the shell so there isn't any danger. Note how I removed and set aside the shell when I started. Even so, if you get a drop on paint, just wipe it off immediately and no damage is done. As far as the motor, the sides aren't painted, rather they are chemically blackend so there isn't any chance for paint loss. I've worked on dozens of these things, never have I once experienced paint loss through my methods. These things were built for kids back in the day, they have pretty good paint so when the kid throws them, they don't chip. These things don't get anymore sensitive as they age, it's all metal. Steel, brass, and copper don't get brittle with only 60 or 70 years, it takes a long long time to break them down. The only thing that can get brittle is the old prewar zinc cast wheels. Sometimes they get zinc rot and crumble but most Marx prewar wheels are ok. Even all the plastic or bakelight pieces inside the reverse unit hold up. I understand your concern for something as old as this but let me assure you, these things are built well. As long as they're cleaned and oiled periodically, they'll run forever. Out of all the Marx motors I've worked on, I haven't found a single one that didn't come back to some degree. I found a motor that was sitting in water for many many years. The center contact was completely green, the wheels were stuck, and all it took was a little WD40 and it came back.