my brand new locomotive won't run. please help

[Anonymous]

my brand new locomotive won't run. and when i push it, it starts to go, and then dies at certain areas of my layout i checked the main wiring on the layout that connects to power pack i am using the cab 1 remote and it seems fine andi am using atlas o gauge tracks could it be the tracks or the bench table that the layout if the track needs cleaning what brand of liquid track cleaner should i use. please help.[?]

[Dave Farquhar]

The track or table shouldn't affect it, as long as the table is reasonably level and the track is secured well. I'm more inclined to think it's either the locomotive or the transformer. Do you have a different locomotive to try, to verify that everything else works OK?

You didn't say what brand it was, but when I had a problem with a brand-new Lionel last week, they were very prompt at making things right.

[daan]

Probably best is to contact your lionel (if it's a lionel) dealer. From the problems you describe, I think it's a bad solder point or a loose wire.
It can be that the can motor has to run a few minutes before it's brushes are worn in the right way to keep power on, but it shouldn't be stalling.
Since it's a new one, I wouldn't tinker on it, and return to the shop/dealer to keep within warranty.

[wrmcclellan]

Lionel Train SD-40T-2,

We need a bit more information.

1. Is the Atlas O track brand new? If it is the center rail needs a good cleaning as the blackening they use has a residue that is not very conductive. Some of us have had to resort to sanding the blackening completely off the top of the rail (particularly on switch frogs) to get it to work reliably.

2. Is your track a temporary layout or permanent? Check the rail joiners carefully. Be aware that most of us with Atlas O track with a permanent layout have had to resort to soldering all the rail connections (HO folks have same issue - rail joiners are not great conductors over time for reliable operation).

3. Lionel made some design changes for the truck assemblies in the newer Diesel locomotives and there have been some instances of ground continuity through the truck assemblies (my CCII Skarknose diesels had a major problem - went back to Lionel for repair). It should not be a problem with the loco you have since it is a very recent issue. To see if this is an issue - take the loco off the track (after you have verified the track is not causing a problem) and turn it upside down. Take some jumpers from your transformer to the roller pickup and wheel frames and see if it runs reliably this way. If it does, the problem is on the layout.

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

1.my layout is temporary 2. yes the tracks are band new

[wrmcclellan]

SD-40T-2,

1. Clean the track and buff the center rail so it is very clean.

2. Try the upside down test on the loco to determine whether the track or loco is the source of the problem.

3. Check all rail joiner connections and make sure they are tight. You may also consider adding some additional track feeder wires from the transformer to other areas of the layout as rail joiners drop some voltage at each joint.

4. If loco is ok, track is clean, and additional feeders do not help, then you may have to resort to lightly sanding off the blackening agent from the top of the center rail. Use a 200 or 400 grit wet/dry silicon carbide (the black stuff) type of sandpaper to do this. Use 200 to break through and then follow up with 400 to clean it up.

Regards,
Roy

[pbjwilson]

I had a brand new MTH loco that would run - stop - give a push , repeat. Drove me crazy. I started cleaning track, checking rail joints, replaced the battery, etc.
Took the shell off one day after a frustrating operating session and just started tugging on wires and connections. And there it was. A wire connecting plug was just the slightest bit loose. Just snugged it up and it's run great ever since.

Also have a Lionel GG-1 that is very tempermental in command mode. If its run under a metal bridge it goes into nuetral or just plain stops. Something about the cast metal body and interference from a metal obect, in this case the bridge. I actually glued a piece of foam craft board under the bridge which helped but it still stalled on occasion.

I would check the connections of all the wires first. Then proceed from there. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Lionel,

What is the problem locomotive? Is it one of the original SD-40T2's? If it is, and you send it back to Lionel, ask them about the heat sink for the smoke unit. A few of these (and I think a very few) had an issue with the smoke unit that allowed them to get so hot that they melted the shell. Mine was sent back to Lionel through my local dealer. I thought Lionel would replace the shell only. They replaced the entire locomotive with a new one (which was prety darn nice).

Anyway, I thought this might be the locomotive because of your Forum Handle.

Good luck with things. Let us know what happens.

[Anonymous]

the SD-40T-2 goes around the loop then dies in this certain areas these are the features my new train has describe below

SPSF SD-40T-2 Tunnel Motor

FEATURES:

Scale proportions

Separately applied detail parts

Super-detailed die-cast metal trucks

Authentic paint schemes

Perfectly matched to Lionel Standard O Rolling Stock

TrainMaster Command Control equipped—able to run in Command Control Mode or in Conventional Transformer Control Mode

RailSounds sound system with CrewTalk communication and TowerCom announcements

Odyssey System for speed control with ON/OFF switch

Directional lighting including LED headlights

Operating marker lights

Two ElectroCouplers

Dual powerful maintenance-free motors with momentum flywheels

Magne-Traction track gripping system

Traction tires

Fan-driven smoke unit

Die-cast metal trucks, fuel tank and pilots

Metal frame

Separately applied metal details

Lighted number boards

Lighted cab interior

Engineer figures

[wrmcclellan]

SD-40T-2,

Are you running TMCC or conventional control?

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

i have the layout setup where i am running my cab-1 remote, trainmaster command base , the trainmaster ph-1 powermaster , lionel 135.watt powehouse with my SPSF SD-40T-2

[wrmcclellan]

SD-40T-2,

Does the headlight blink in time with any commands entered on the CAB-1 when it stalls?

1. As I stated above, check all track connections and since you are using Atlas track, attach a jumper so BOTH outside rails are connected to the common terminal on your transformer (Atlas track has the two outside rails isolated from each other).

2. Your TMCC Command Base must have it's transformer wall power pack connected to a good house ground via your wall outlet. TMCC's low frequency signal (455 kHz) needs a very good earth ground to operate properly.

Poor grounding is usually the culprit if the headlight on your loco starts "blinking" for each CAB-1 command sent.

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

no the train completely stops at this one area of the layout maybe the track is bad so i might replace that section of the layout

[Anonymous]

I've got a similar problem on a locomotive that's only a week old. It worked fine at first but now repeatably dies on parts of the track. Mine appears to be a problem with the rear pickup roller. This is fairly easy to check to if you have a multi-meter. Set the meter to continuity check, flip the locomotive over, place one probe on the roller and the other on the copper piece that goes between the two rollers. If you don't get continuity between these points, the roller isn't functioning properly. I'm going to take mine in for warranty repair.

[Anonymous]

I'm having trouble with my altas track. The lionel trains does not make it across the switches. The pickups on the train are too close. I have a williams that runs great on the track. Does Lionel make larger pickups. It is husdon 3ja, item 38045.

Ron

[Anonymous]

I am having a similar problem with a brand new Lionel Santa Fe A-B-A. However, after 2 weeks of re-wiring, buying new track, altering my layout, I discovered the source of the problem. Whenever the Santa Fe A unit goes underneath a Lionel remote control switch, the switch sends out a signal that causes the loco to stop. The loco can still perform its TMCC whisle, bell and uncoupling, but it will not run. If I place my hand in between the switch and the loco, it runs fine. What I need to find is an appropriate shield that will allow the loco to perform without stalling. I am not sure if you are having a similar problem, but I hope it helps!

[e-mail]

[winrose46]

CTT had an earlier isssue that discussed having an earth ground between layers of track to prevent the signal from the overhead track interfering with reception. That would probably be the switch problem enumerated in an earlier post.

[Anonymous]

there is either a problem with the engine or your layouts wiring and the command control. If you have a hobby shop in town take the engine to them and let them run it on their command control track. If you have a friend with a commnad cntrol layout take it to him and test it on his. I had an engine that didn;t work as well so I took it to a local trains shop they tested it out and it worked fine. the problem was in my layout. The power connection was bad in certian areas of my layout. I fixed the wiring and the problem was solved. Also if you have another engine that works fine on your rail layout them the problem may be with the engine.If the problem is with the track or wiring then every engine will have problems. If The problem is with the engine send it back to lionel you only have a year warranty. I have the same engine and mine was fine out of the box.

[poppyl]

From everything that I've read so far, it sounds like a track or wiring problem. However, just to be sure, does the problem occur on a straight or curved section? Have you physically reversed the loco and run it in the other direction and did the problem still occur at the same spot? Does the problem occur if the loco is running in reverse?

Poppyl