Hello all,
I recently began replacing the plastic wheelsets on my rolling stock with metal wheelsets from intermountain. I am using the brass insulated 33" wheelsets. Today I replaced the wheelsets on one of my cars and when I put it on the track, the sound loco I had running on the track turned off. When I looked at the controller (NCE Powercab), the display was dimmed and flickering. I found the trouble wheelset, and when I place it on the track, the axle gets hot. What does this mean? Is the wheelset not completely insulated? Also, is there any way I can fix it? Any help is greatly appreciated.
sfb
It sounds like you have a bad wheelset. The plastic insulator is more than likely broken and is causing an a short. As far as I know there isn't a simple way to fix it. It's best to discard the trouble wheelset and replace it with a new one. It's not worth frying a decoder or other electronic hardware over an inexpensive wheelset.
Will
Probably indeed it's a bad wheelset, but just as a sanity check, does the car that shorted out have metal trucks? If so, you might just have one wheelset in the wrong way.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Probably indeed it's a bad wheelset, but just as a sanity check, does the car that shorted out have metal trucks? If so, you might just have one wheelset in the wrong way. --Randy
Nope, plastic trucks.
I'm not about to say that it could not be a bad wheelset but, in my experience, this would be a first.
I have installed hundreds of Intermountain wheelsets on my rolling stock, and I have never had a bad wheelset.
Are these wheelsets new?
Rich
Alton Junction
Hi,
As said Richhotrain, I've installed literally hundreds of Intermountain wheelsets and have never experienced a problem. That is not to say there can't be one, but I find it surprising.
That being said, if one runs a continuity check from one wheel to the other and its positive - that axle will hit the trash bin in record time.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I have seen similar problems. Check to see if the metal wheelset is touching a bottom-mounted metal weight on the car. should both sides of the wheelset touch at the same time, you will generate a short through the weight.
RJT
richhotrain Are these wheelsets new?
As far as I know. I bought them on amazon in late December from Cream City Hobbies.
We had a member at my club have similar problems with a wheel set, not sure if they were your brand or not but it happens. Dont toss the wheels, they make a great load or add them off to the side of your loco shop.
Sounds like a bad set . that's rare with intermountain wheel sets.