I have a Stewart/Kato new FT A with B dummy on a drawbar that stalls/shorts out on several of my Atlas snap switches then starts up....with the Soundtraxx LC diesel decoder.
None of my other locos have a problem on these turnouts and I know these stupid LCs can be a problem. I do not have a stay alive capacitor installed on the decoder. Do you think this would help?
There seems nothing physically wrong with the loco. The wheels are clean. The wheels are in gauge. And I can see no physical problem as the loco passes over the switch. The rear truck is a bit restricted in its turning because the brake cylinders hit the shell foot rail at that point. But it doesn't seem that restricted. I guess I could pull off the detail and see if that is the problem.
I just think it is these fussy decoders from Soundtraxx which have given me problems like this before.
2. Take the momentum off of the Sountraxx Decoder (CV 3 and 4 set to 0). The big downside to the LC series of decoders is just the issue you have described, they have no way to negotiate dirty, or non-electrical track (isolated frogs). Unfortunately, with the LC series of decoders, there is not perscribed way of installing a cap.
quote
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Gerome wrote:I have a Stewart/Kato new FT A with B dummy on a drawbar that stalls/shorts out on several of my Atlas snap switches then starts up.
Then a question. Is it stalling because it shorts first? Or did you say stall/short because you didn't know which? A tiny short could very well cause this behavior in a Soundtraxx LC.
The rear truck is a bit restricted in its turning because the brake cylinders hit the shell foot rail at that point.
I guess I could pull off the detail and see if that is the problem.
I also have many (most) FT AB sets where I've run two wires for power from the B unit up to the A. That gives 16 wheels collecting power instead of just 8.
Thanks for all the info so far guys (and good link to stay alive capacitors in various decoders. I am going to look into that further.)
Yes, it is an HO FT with Kato drive.
It probably does not short out, but rather loses a connection running through a snap switch on the main rail, but will restart and continue.
And on one snap switch it loses connection and comes to a complete stop while moving from the mainline to the siding (occurs to me there is proper terminology for a loco running through an unthrown switch and through a thrown one, but I don't know what it is.)
And when it does come to a complete stop it can be brouight back into contact by rocking it on its trucks. Therefore I think the idea of a poor pickup in the truck is a likely problem. I will check that next, because the locos wheels are all still properly on the right rails when it moves through any switch. I bet something is twisting out of contact alright. Hope so.
Oh, yes, I have actually put the decoder and speakers in the B unit and run just track and motor wires back to it from the A unit (hence the drawbar as these will always be together). And all 16 wheels are picking up current very well.
Will repost if I solve anything.
All 16 wheels?? Is the B unit powered, or is it a dummy that you're also using to pick up power for the decoder??
Did you power the turnout frogs??
wjstix wrote: All 16 wheels?? Is the B unit powered, or is it a dummy that you're also using to pick up power for the decoder?? Did you power the turnout frogs??
Yes, I used the pickups already in the dummy's trucks to add more power points.
Yes, the frogs all have drop feeders.
Good news ( I created another post just about conducta lube in which I copied this info) is that I stripped the wheelsets and pickups down to the wire and cleaned and polished everything really well. I also noted that the pick ups are wires pinched in large versions of the plastic cap connecter rather than actually soldered to the brass pickups. I took these off and repositioned the wires and reassembled and the unit seems very smooth running now. " border="0" width="15" height="15" /> Just a little loss of contact makes those stupid LCs act up.
Make sure the electrical pick up wires to the wheels aren't shorting out on the frame. Some manufactureres use a plastic cover near the wheels to hold the wire to the pickup. These can come off causing the pickup wire to short to the frame. It acts like it is stalling especially on turnouts. Ask me how I know
This happened on my proto2000 Sw8.
Gerome wrote: wjstix wrote: All 16 wheels?? Is the B unit powered, or is it a dummy that you're also using to pick up power for the decoder?? Did you power the turnout frogs?? Yes, I used the pickups already in the dummy's trucks to add more power points.Yes, the frogs all have drop feeders.Good news ( I created another post just about conducta lube in which I copied this info) is that I stripped the wheelsets and pickups down to the wire and cleaned and polished everything really well. I also noted that the pick ups are wires pinched in large versions of the plastic cap connecter rather than actually soldered to the brass pickups. I took these off and repositioned the wires and reassembled and the unit seems very smooth running now. " border="0" width="15" height="15" /> Just a little loss of contact makes those stupid LCs act up.
Make sure you cover the wires good where the plastic caps were otherwise it will cause you the same problem.