K-Line CSX Diesel shorting out when placed on track

[mpeche]

Hey guys,

I posted here a while back about my galloping goose and it was much appreciated. I am now all of a sudden having issues with my K-Line CSX SD70 with TMCC.  

OK a little background: I have been using this engine flawlessly for a while now probably a couple of years on and off. Most recently I have been working on my layout a bit and also running my trains regularly including the engine in question.  the train never moves off the track and when not in use it sits on a siding.  The other day I powered on my layout and for some reason it kept shorting out.....  I checked the usual suspects.... possibly a screw on the tracks or a staple.....  nothing I could find.  So by process of elimination I removed all my engines and rolling stock off the track and i was able to power up the track. I was able to then put all my engines back on and when i placed the CSX on it immediately shorted out.  :(

To make a long story short I have now began taking the engine apart and i can't find anything wrong.... One thing i discovered is that if I have the engine on the track with the 3rd rail power connetions removed it's fine it can just sit there... but if i mount any one of the 4 power wheels (it has two motors) it will short out again....

Once again ANY help will be appreciated and if you have any question i can answer them as well.

Thanks

Mike

 

 

 

 

[rtraincollector]

to me it sounds like something with the insulation between the pick-us and the truck and this could even be the screws.

Try this get some electrical tape and put on the under side of your mounting bracket for your pick-up also cut a hole in a small piece and tread your screw Thur it and then screw it to hold your mounting bracket to the truck also check to see if the connecting wire may be hitting the truck or anything any where between the pick-up and where it connects

I had a truck on a B-unit that was doing the same thing and it turned out to be a piece of plastic the screw went Thur was cracked.

[TrainLarry]

Mike,

   With the shell off, make sure no wires are shorting to the frame. To isolate the problem, trace all the wires from all the roller pickups to the main board, and unsolder all of them at the board. (If the wires go to a plug or socket, then you may need to unsolder the wires at the rollers themselves.) Power up. If there is a short, the problem is in the roller pickups or their wires. If no short, touch 1 wire to the board connection, or back to the roller. If there is a short, the board or possibly a motor is history. Disconnect all wires from both motors to isolate motors or board.

Larry

[anjdevil2]

This may be far afield but I had a Southern 0-8-0 that did the same thing.  It would short out.  Removed the tender and it was fine.  Turns out that the Train Doctor found the board was shorting  everything out.  The board was back-ordered for a year.  I got it back last January and it has been fine ever since.

You may have the same issue.

Hope this helps.

Rich