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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by jwatts3463 Definitely sounds like dirt to me. Especially if you're getting arcing between the wheels and rail. If your track hasn't been cleaned in a long time, I would start by using a "bright boy" (grit-impregnated eraser block) and scrub the rail until it shines. After that, an occasional cleaning with denatured alcohol should keep it clean. An easy way to clean wheels is to lay a paper towell across the track and spray it down with denatured alcohol (no water). Then, remove the engine and turn your throttle up to 90 or so. By placing the engine on the track with one set of trucks on the track covered by the paper towell and the other off the towell (to pick up power) and holding the loco stationary while the wheels slip. After the wet towell quits getting black with the one truck, switch to the other truck. If the truck trying to pick up power is very dirty, it might take a while to get it rolling. Another thing to do is use some electrical contact cleaner (spray can) on the bolsters where the axle contacts the bearing. This is the path the current takes into the motor and it gets dirty too. Good luck. [/quote] Thanks for the advice guys. Quick question(s): 1) If I have a straight sectional track that feeds from the power pack, can I still add another feeder track for more power? 2) The arcing situation--why would this affect one loco and not the others, especially given that some of my other engines get greater use?
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