https://www.flickr.com/photos/187894500@N03/
I have recently dusted off an old family favorite and found that the engine buzzed and refused to move.
The steam engine is a 0-8-0 Mehano yard switcher. I took the engine shell and tender shells off and checked the gears moved freely and the DC wiring was in place. Then I looked at the tender, which I am sure is where the issue is and looked at the leads for the reverse light and everything seemd ok.
The engine will work fine with the tender off the tracks, the engine will work fine with the rear truck only on the tracks but the last truck closest to the engine triggers the issue.
I have posted some photos on Flickr and hope that someone can spot the issue or at least make suggestions for such a lowly but loved engine.
Thank you and happy Easter
to the forum Sean. Your posts are initially moderated and there is a delay.
I don't know if it's the case with Mehano, but often the tender picks up power from one rail and the engine from another. If the front truck or the tender is backward, it will be a short.
Or if the truck sideframes are metal and a wheel set is reversed, there will be a problem.
Your photos aren't in good enough focus to tell what is going on with the wiring.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
if the truck immediately behind the loco is the issue, it may have been rotated 180 degrees to a point where it's contacting both sides on the tender trucks ..
rotate that truck 1/2 turn and try it again ..
The truck maybe 180 off, or maybe just one wheelset in that truck, maybe 180 off.
Good luck
It sounds, (as the other three replies have suggested), like the lead tender truck has been rotated 180. I have a 2-6-0 of the same make with the same tender and wiring hookup, so I might be able to help you. As you're looking at the tender truck wheels, you should see a black insulating ring on the inboard side of one of the wheels of each axel. On each truck, the wheels with the insulating ring should be on the same side of their respective truck. When you put the trucks back on, the truck closest to the engine should have the insulating rings on the right side of the loco when upright. The rear truck should have the rings on the left side of the loco when upright. If this doesn't work, than you probably have a wiring issue, but I think it's most likely the trucks. I hope this helps. Good luck!
Thanks Henry,
I will let you know if that helps.
Good evening,
Welll done all of you, you were absolutely right. The Yard Switcher is happy wobbling around the track between 2 kids bedrooms at breakneck speeds with a consist of 20 cars.
This all started when I turned the engine and tender over and heard a rattle inside which was the nut which held the contact inside for the reverse tender light.
Thank you