Help with MTH F-3 ABA Diesel Locomotive Set

[Anonymous]

Setting/Context:
31x51 RealTrax Oval
Z-1000 Transformer and Controller
RailKing Santa Fe F-3 Boxed Set Item No. 30-2701-1 (A-B-A set, two powered A units) --- just purchased.

Both powered units ran fine out of the box for 5-10 minutes then started acting-up, jerking, lights dimming, unable to go into reverse, throwing circuit breaker on transformer. The set was pretty much innoperable at this point so I disconnected the trailing A-unit and just ran the lead unit to trouble-shoot.

With only locomotive #28 (lead unit) on the track…
1. Turn on power supply, throttle up about halfway, the locomotive appears to be in neutral, but I can gently bump it and it takes off. Sometimes it jerks a bit and trips the circuit breaker on the power supply.

2. On those occasions when it does seem to start-up normally, shift into forward, and start moving with a slow crawl… it eventually proceeds to jerky, sporadic accelleration, head-light dims (or not on at all), and Proto-Sound brakes squeal as if I am throttling-down even though the throttle is constant at a ¾ setting.

3. If and when I can get the locomotive into neutral, and switch the unit into reverse, it struggles to move and will eventually trip the circuit breaker on the power supply. Sometimes I can give it a little nudge in reverse… when I do, the front wheel sets spark a little and the power supply circuit breaker trips.

The track and wheels have been cleaned with track cleaner, the black center rail is polished and clean. I have no problems running my brand new RailKing 2-8-0 Santa Fe Steam Engine Item No. 30-4119-0 (Loco-Sound) in nuetral, forward, reverse, whistle, bell, etc. on this same set of track and power supply/throttle. The track, transformer, controller, and 2-8-0 RTR set is brand new, just purchased in December.

Has anyone seen this behavior? The set is brand new, just purchased.

[spankybird]

HI kbruce,

Welcome to the CTT forum


By and chance, do you have your layout on the floor [?]

I ask this because it sound like you may have some dirt or carpet fibers in the engine gearing. Try turning the engine over and checking the gears on the trucks. Maybe remove the shell and again check around the gears in the trucks.

Lets start here and then if you still have problems we can look at other things.

tom

[ChiefEagles]

Think Tom may have hit it. If you are comfortable with taking the engine apart, you may have to remove the shell, turn it over and remove the screw in the bottom of the truck that has the gears jammed with lint/dirt. After removing motor, you will be able to get the obstruction out. If you are not comfortable with this, take it to a train repair person.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for replying Tom. No, the layout is not on the floor. I have it on a table with the track attached to a 4x8 sheet of plywood. The units are brand new, hot off the UPS truck this past Friday.

I think it has something to do with the electronics --- between the computer chip in the loco and the Z-1000 controller system. I may take to it with a screw driver and remove the shell today....

Thanks,
Kevin

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

HI kbruce,

Welcome to the CTT forum


By and chance, do you have your layout on the floor [?]

I ask this because it sound like you may have some dirt or carpet fibers in the engine gearing. Try turning the engine over and checking the gears on the trucks. Maybe remove the shell and again check around the gears in the trucks.

Lets start here and then if you still have problems we can look at other things.

tom

[Anonymous]

Hello ChiefEagles

I will probably remove the shell. I find it hard to believe there's lint/dirt in the gears since it is brand new, out of the box as of Friday. I've only [attempted] to run it for an hour or so... with a lot of frustration! I think a repair person [the factory] is in order.

Thanks for the reply,
Kevin

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Think Tom may have hit it. If you are comfortable with taking the engine apart, you may have to remove the shell, turn it over and remove the screw in the bottom of the truck that has the gears jammed with lint/dirt. After removing motor, you will be able to get the obstruction out. If you are not comfortable with this, take it to a train repair person.

[ChiefEagles]

Sorry to hear that Kevin. I ahd one of mine jam with a piece of hair. Yes, hair got in the gears. Close tolorances. I did the remove the motor thing and got it to finally "turn" out. Not like the old post wars where you could turn the wheels with your fingers.

[Anonymous]

Kevin,

I have been a victim of lint as described by Tom and Chief, above. You might find lint, styrofoam packing etc. in the spur gears, locking up the truck.

I have also seen it where a piece of debris is actually floating around in the gear box and jamming the worm wheel and gear (I have to take my Lionel Zephyr apart to look for this, because every once in a while, the front truck (which is powered) just locks up.

When you take the shell off, try to rotate the flywheels by hand. They should move easily and the wheels should rotate when you do so. If they bind, remove the motor (one screw, under the truck). See if the motor now turns easily. Then check the wheels on the truck to see if they turn easily.

When replacing the motor, make sure not to pinch any wires.

Please let us know how it goes.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

Well, today was a new day around here... less hair pulling for sure. After fighting this situation last night until 2:00 in the morning, I gave up and went to bed. Got up this morning and for no reason other than trying something different, I connected the trailing A unit to the lead, put it on the track, fired up the power and it's been working flawlessly ever since!?!?!? I did nothing more than let the darn things sit over night... woke up with intentions of tearing them down (as some of you suggested) but I think I will let a "sleeping dog lie" on this one! [:D]

I've been running them all day at various speeds, breaking them in, going between forward/reverse, etc. Something must have worked its way out I guess. I also wonder if the battery inside the locomotive needed a good charge from sitting on the dealers shelf so long? Who knows....

Thanks for all your help!
Kevin

[spankybird]

I am glad it is working for you. If you have any other questions, just ask.

tom