Got the intermittent smoke issue resolved thanks to help from this form. As I was running the locomotive, it would intermittently slow down, i'd them apply more power and it would speed up. then it would stop altogether. I was able to restart the train after shutting power to my transformer then restarting. The last time it happened... no movement at all. Could hear the reverse unit cycling, and checked it visually. There seems to be power through the wiring harness to the plug at the locomotive. however, no engine movement and no light. The motor had been running fine up till then. Any ideas?
Sounds like you have an electrical problem somewhere after the jack panel. Since the reverse unit cycles and the light doesn't work I would check out the wiring.
While not assuming anything, the jack panel is that pressed cardboard where the wires go from the tender and plug into the locomotive.
Good luck and please keep us posted.
BTW - What exactly did you do for your smoke problem?
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
put some acetone down the stack, followed by smoke fluid, as suggested by a response on this forum.
RE: Smoke unit. I just read your update on the other thread. Did you try it again? And is you loco producing smoke for a longer amount of time?
Thanks again.
No light sounds like a bad connection somewhere, usually the plug from the tender. Check it carefully for good solder connections, as well as the connections to the truck rivets and reverse unit.
Have you cleaned and lubed the loco, including removing the brushplate and cleaning the brushes, springs and armature commutator? The wheels, axles and axle contact springs all need to be clean, as well as the track. If everything is clean, and all connections are good, block up the locomotive off the wheels and remove the plug from the tender and add a small jumper wire from one brush connection to one field winding connection on the locomotive. Connect track power to the other brush connection and field winding connection and turn up the transformer. The motor should run. If it does not, then you have a motor problem. If it does, then you probably have a reverse unit problem.
Larry
yes, it did produce smoke significantly longer
I used a meter and checked on the locomotive side of the plug, with the transformer on. I'm getting voltage there. I also tried what you suggested regarding jumping to the locomotive connections and get nothing. what puzzles me is that the locomotive had been running fine just before all of this happened? can the motor be replaced?
sprayed some electronic contact cleaner on motor, contacts, plugs, etc. Engine runs like before. But....no light. I checked the wires and all looks ok.
Check for voltage at the wires to the bulb, then remove the bulb and check for voltage in the socket itself. If all is good, try another bulb.
I have had similar issues in the past and I traced it to a broken wire at the jack panel. The wires may seem to be intact but it may only be held in place by the cloth insulation. I would check each one for continuity and move them about when you do to determine if it is making intermittent contact.
i get this problem a lot from customers. check the tension of your brush springs. they should be at least 3/4 of a inch in lenth. and I am not a big fan of the spray repair in a can method. it causes more problems then the cheap fix is worth. and not all cleaners at plastic compatable. and 1 last thing. look for "smearing on the communtator face. it may be a sign that the armature is dying. best of luck.
Mike
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