Its dead!

[Anonymous]

HI folks, im new to the model railroader forums, so please bare with me. I finnaly decided to bring out my old HO railroad, after having to put it up for a while due to the cat (cries over the catzilla incedent) Any way, i get it out set it up and get ready to run my train, but nothing happens. I check the track and power is indeed runnin thrugh the track, but my train dosnt move. I tried using an eraser, some magazine said to try that, but still no luck. If any one knows a website that tells you how to check for the problem step by step that would be great. Thanks for your time.

[ARTHILL]

1. Turn the engine upside down
2. Put two feeder wires on the power pack and check with multimeter to make sure you have current.
3. Touch the ends of the feeder wires to the wheels of the engine, they shoud turn.
4. If they don't - touch the feeder wires to the brushes of the motor. It should run
5. If it doesn't you have a real problem.
6. If it is a good engine, take the motor out and check the brushes and all contacts. If there is any corrosion, clean it and repeat. If that does not spin the motor, it has to be an awfully good engine to be worth further repairs.

I just threw one out this week. In my case a new engine would cost less than a new motor and would look better.

[SMassey]

I would recomend that you remove the body from the locomotive and give it a good cleaning. After sitting a while the areas where the pickups contact each other will build up a litte oil and dust making poor connections. Athern locomotives are prone to getting a little rust on the metal tang that spans the top of the motor and each truck. That tang is one of the pickups for the track current to the motor. The next place to look at is where the truck comes in contact with the chassis this is also a current picup area on athern locos, and again prone ot rust and grime. The last place to look for good contact inside the engine is where the brushes contact the motors armeture. This applies to all brands of locomotives but some are easier to get to then others. If your loco has a can type motor the brushed should be easy to get to and an eraser wil clean the blackened parts and give the copper/brass a shine again. Pan motors are not as easy (small usually plastic and flat with a little gear comming out of one side. ). These motors you have to take the shell appart to get to the contact surface, but be careful that you dont lose the brushes or the springs you will need them if you ever want the motor to run again.

Other places to look on all locos is the wheels. the current will be picked up by the metal wheels on the loco and will be transferend by little spting tabs that ride on the top of the wheels or by metal plates on the side of the gearbox. Again here make sure it is all clean. Once you have done all the cleaning of the engine put it back to gether and give it a try. Just remember to put some light weight oil back on the friction areas of the locos insides. a little oil here goes a long way to a happy train.

One more thing if you do not have the mechanical skills to preform this cleaning and maintanence on your locomotive there should be a hobby store or a train store nearby you that can, most will help you for a small fee or even free.

Good luck :)


edits for fix typos, it is too early I cant see very good yet

[rolleiman]

Dude, You don't mention what kind of engine (brand name) but the first thing I would look for is a loose wire... I've had locos that sat for 10 or more years and other than being a little dry and in need of wheel cleaning did at least power up.. You say the loco does nothing.. Does it have a light? Did the light work after kitty attacked it?? Does it work now? Do you hear a hum? Or is it just completely dead [xx(]...

Jeff

[selector]

I have nothing more to add, except to say good to hear that you are making a determined comeback, and I hope you can resolve your problem easily.

-Crandell

[Anonymous]

ITS ALIVE! Yep my train is finnaly running again( thanks to you guys). One more problem though. Theres two places on my track that will make my train slow down if at full speed, or stop all together if going at half speed. This also happens if the train is running in reverse, so im sure its just the track . Iv cleand the track a couple of times, and it still does it. If any one has any ideas of how to fix this im all ears, other wise ill leave the train at full speed for now.

Again, thanks to every one for the help.[:D]

[dickencr]

It sounds like a dirty or corroded connection in the track. Check the connectors, make sure they are tight and above all, clean. Corrosion is like a resistor, it cuts the current to the track by restricting the flow.

Good luck..

[Medina1128]

If it's at the far side of the layout, I would check two things.
1) Check for loose rail joiners. One way to check is to turn off all the lights and run the loco. Look for arcs and sparks at the rail joiner.
2) Too small gauge of wire used.
My bet would be the rail joiners. If it's a large layout, I would solder a couple of feeder wires to the rail, drop them through to underneath the layout, then run busses to them (wires bringing the power to that section of the layout).

[ham99]

Get a bottle of Rail Zip and put a SMALL drop on each rail joiner. I do this every three months and it does wonders to keep the trains running. It sells for around $5 per bottle, and it goes a long way.

[Anonymous]

- OUT OF SUBJECT -

Nice pics Marlon !

Regards,

Andre INGELS
Brussels, Belgium ([:I]The beer country)

[waltersrails]

man thats sad to here. i hope you get it running.

[CMSTPP]

The one most important thing about model rr's is if your locomotive runs. If that doesn't work then the train isn't going to move. I would open your locomotive up and make sure that all wires are connected to where there suppose to be. I would lube up your worm geers on either end of the drive assemblies and make sure the wheels are clean so that the electricity will get to the motor. I would also check to see if your motor even spins. Sometimes after stting awhile the motor will collect dust and things that lodged in to it. ( No problems here if you have a canned motor.) Make sure power is running through your trucks properly. If nothing works after all of this information then you may have to talk somebody else about this or go out and buy another locomotive.
James