Problems with the Lionel 8602 locomotive running over switches

[jwilharm]

I just bought a Lionel 8602 locomotive used on eBay.  Think it's from the mid-70s. It runs fine on normal O gauge track, but it has problems crossing over switches.  It makes it over the switch, but when it hits the first track beyond the switch, it usually stops and reverses. 

It seems like it's losing its contact with the tracks somehow.  

Any thoughts on how to fix this problem?

[dwiemer]

Sorry, I am at work and am not sure which locomotive you are talking about.  Is this a single motor unit, or does it have two?  If this is a single motor, perhaps the pickup rollers have a problem.  If one of the rollers is shorting, it may be cycling the reversing unit.  Have you tried locking it in forward?  If you have a meter, check continuity for the rollers.  Does this do the same thing at all speeds?  A little more information should get you a better answer.

dennis

[jwilharm]

Thanks Dennis - is there a way I can attach a JPG image of the locomotive and its under carriage to this Forum, so you can see what I am talking about? 

[1688torpedo]

 Hello JW!    Your #8602 is a lightweight 027 engine that will not run well over 022 Switch Tracks due to the weight & the frog in the middle of the switch. You really need 027 Track & Switches for this engine & the reverse unit needs to be turned off so that if there is a momentary interruption of current flow, It will not go into reverse. Hope this helps. Take Care.

[Chris F]

The #8602 2-4-0 Rio Grande steamer was produced from 1976-78.  As 1688torpedo noted, it's probably losing contact with the center rail as the loco crosses the switch.

The loco was listed as coming with the "Mighty Sound of Steam", a primitive version of RailSounds.  If you have the original tender, you should see a center rail pickup on the bottom of the front truck.  As an alternative to using O-27 track or locking the e-unit, you could connect a wire between the center rail contacts of the locomotive and the tender.

[traindaddy1]

The #8602 2-4-0 Rio Grande steamer was produced from 1976-78.  As 1688torpedo noted, it's probably losing contact with the center rail as the loco crosses the switch.

The loco was listed as coming with the "Mighty Sound of Steam", a primitive version of RailSounds.  If you have the original tender, you should see a center rail pickup on the bottom of the front truck.  As an alternative to using O-27 track or locking the e-unit, you could connect a wire between the center rail contacts of the locomotive and the tender.

Chris F: I have the same engine and the same problem. I do not have the original tender anymore but my solution is to run the engine on my smaller non-switch loop.  Your solution sounds like it is right on target.  Thanks for giving us your advice.

[Anonymous]

 

 

 

[dwiemer]

As chris suggests, you can run a flexible wire from the pickup on the tender to the pickup or motor of the engine.  I suggest using a connector between the engine and tender that you can disconnect should you want to work on them separately.  I believe this idea is illustrated in the "Tips and Tricks" book.

Dennis

[lionelsoni]

For this sort of thing, I usually use a pair of individual connector pins, each covered with shrink tubing.  Since the male pin cannot be completely covered, I put the female on the locomotive, which I might want to test-run by itself.  Here are pictures of the kind of pins I'm talking about, labeled "HDM-20 Pins, Sockets, and Tools":

http://www.alliedelec.com/catalog/pf.asp?FN=130.pdf

 

[1688torpedo]

 Hi Guys!     JWs 8602 does not have the Electronic Sound of Steam. It has the Mechanical version with the BBs inside a hollow roller. JW will have to buy a pickup roller assembly to accomplish what you have suggested with the tether for the Tender. Take Care all.

[Chris F]

Keith, you're absolutely right, the SOS is mechanical.  What's confusing is the that the parts list on Lionel's website doesn't indicate that the pickup is part of the electrical SOS.  I can't think of a reason why a pickup would be needed for the mechanical version, but "you never know!"  If there is no pickup assembly, a 9050-150 assembly ($6.36 from Olsen's Toy Train Parts) should snap into the front truck.

[1688torpedo]

 Hello Chris- The front truck will be the right place for the 9050-150 pickup assembly. That is a Typo on the Website where it shows a pickup which leads to confusion & is something Lionel should correct immedietly. Take Care.