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Littel Problems

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  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 3:58 PM

 The best way to clean loco wheels is to place an alcohol dampened cloth on the tracks.

Then hold half of the loco's trucks over the cloth and run the loco. Move slightly back and forth.

Then reverse the loco and repeat.  It only takes a couple of minutes. A little bit longer for steamers.

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    April 2010
  • 225 posts
Posted by fender777 on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 3:49 PM

Thanks all.I have soldered allmost all the joints.This is a brand new layout under construction.I have feeder on every spur and every 6 ft or less.I will try cleaning the wheels on the new train.Like I mention my older one runs unreal'That tells me it is not the track I think.But the sound locos could take more current I know.Will keep tinkering/BOB

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,878 posts
Posted by maxman on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 3:00 PM

Sometimes track could be a little dirty.  Other times wheels on new engines will have some gunk on them as they come out of box.  I don't know if this is from manufacturing process or what, but that gunk could cause what you describe.  The old engine has had plenty of time for this gunk to come off (and deposit itself on your track).

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 2:59 PM

 Sounds like it's time to add feeders and/or solder some rail joiners.  Sound loco's require more current and will show connection issues before a standard DCC loco will.  I would tackle the areas that are showing the problem first and continue to add them as problems arise.  When layouts are newer the connections are fresh and things run great, often with only one or 2 track feeds.  As time passes the rail joiners get some corrosion and connectivity begins to fade.  Over time problems begin to show and increase in frequency.  At that point they realize that the recommendations from the old timers wasn't crazy after all.

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,932 posts
Posted by Stevert on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 2:58 PM

Power and contact issues are probably more noticeable with sound-equipped locos than non-sound ones.  I suspect that you have dirty wheels and/or track.  I'd thoroughly clean both and see if that improves the situation. 

  • Member since
    April 2010
  • 225 posts
Littel Problems
Posted by fender777 on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 2:02 PM

Well after a couple of weekins with my Power Cab all it going great'Except I have one issue.First off let me say I have only 3 DCC Loco's 'I had one of my Atlas Diesle from 4 years ago that was dcc ready upgraded to DCC.It works great never a issue.Will go as slow as a train will go.I also bought a new Atlas gold series diesel with DCC and Sound.Runs great and only once in a while it will stop when going though yards at slow speeds'sound goes off to'If I just barly tough or apply pressure it runs again.Also I just got a new Broadway limited paragon2 with dcc and all kinds of sound.It has the most issue with wanting to stop while going slow.This happens now and then mostly while going quite slow.When going on main lines at hight speeds both work fine. So how could my old Atlas without sound never stop but these brand new one's will at times.I use 14gauge wire and 20 gauge feeders and wire  to every track and joints soldered.Do the sound locos take more power.Can I adjust  CV CODE on my power cab.Like I said this does not happen all the time.And it never happens with my one Atlas non sound train.Thanks for Ideas

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