bachmann three truck shay

[ron1970]

I have a bachmann three truck shay.  I had not run it for about six months, so put it on the track, applied power and nothing?  I have a bridgewerk 20 amp contoller.  Just don't know...doesn't look like a short.

[ttrigg]

Had the same problem, different engine. Your electrons just not getting there. Pull you multimeter out of the cabinet (or buy a cheap one.) Start testing the voltage out of your controller. Then test every point along the way to the rails. In my case controller powers a bank of switches, the switces in turn power (or NON power) the rails as needed. I eventually tracked it down to a rusted out connection between my "main power ring" and the jumper (feeder) wire to the rails.

[PVT Kanaka]

At the risk of souding simplicit, do you have another locomotive you could put on the track?  Then you would at least know whether the issue lies in the locomotive or the track / power source.

- Eric

 

[Mark_S]

Ron

You can also get a clue from the controller - without the loco on the track, as you apply power with the controller, you should see the 'Volts' meter go up, and the 'Amps' stay low.   If the Amps are going up, you have a short somewhere.  If neither meter moves, then perhaps the circuit breaker in the power controller has popped.

Then put the locomotive on the track - if the amps now go up, then there may be a short in the locomotive - try without the tender, and try the tender without the locomotive, if the issue is with the locomotive, then either the tender on it's own, or the locomotive on it's own should go.

Mark

 

[ron1970]

Yes other locomotives run fine.....

[ron1970]

Good information  Thanks

[Rex in Pinetop]

I also have a Shea.  I'm running battery power so the only time I've had problems is where one of my fantastic soldering jobs breaks which leaves me dragging one of the trucks.  Now I check them out before the running season.  I must say the Shea is a very reliable and smooth running engine (when my soldering is good).

Rex