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Jerky starting Genesis GP38-2

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  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Germany
  • 524 posts
Jerky starting Genesis GP38-2
Posted by faraway on Thursday, November 2, 2017 4:01 AM

I have four similar used and same age Athearn Genesis NS GP38-2 high hood with Tsunami 2 sound decoders. One of them runs extreme jerky after it was unused for a day or two. All problems are gone after running two or three feet. I can see and feal how the DCC decoder fights the mechanic for few seconds. It is like a daily micro break in.

The only reason I could think of is fast setting lube in the trucks (not very likely all four engines are of the same age and kept in well heated room). Are there other problems with similar sympthoms I should look after?

Reinhard

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, November 2, 2017 10:15 AM

If you think and feel that the decoder is fighting the mechanism then it's probably not electrical.

There could be a bit of flash in the gearing or the lube has gotten hard.  I would pull the trucks, inspect them, clean them up with alcohol and apply one of the labelle plastic compatible oils or greases.  You may not have to completely disassemble the trucks down to individual gears to do this.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Germany
  • 524 posts
Posted by faraway on Thursday, November 2, 2017 10:34 AM

I have just disassembled the engine to inspect the trucks. Both trucks run perfect on the desk. But the motor is not perfect at low speed. That might be worse when the motor is cooled down. I swapped it with another motor. Let's see how it runs tomorrow morning.

 

ps. Any known reason why the automatic spell checker of Safari does  not work in this forum? I am afraid you have to read a lot of junk from not native english speakers.

Reinhard

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, November 2, 2017 10:43 AM

faraway

 

ps. Any known reason why the automatic spell checker of Safari does  not work in this forum? I am afraid you have to reaf a lot of junk from not native english speakers.

 

 Other browsers have the same issue. But no worries, just means you have to read a lot of junk from native English speakers like me who can't type.

                        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Thursday, November 2, 2017 11:16 AM

The motorbrushes are not contacting propperly to transmit power at low voltage.   That could be a few causes. Worn brushes to the point the springs dont apply enough preassure.   Bad springs.  Brushes are bad. Or commutator needs a good cleaning.  That has been my experience with that problem

 

Wolfie

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Germany
  • 524 posts
Posted by faraway on Thursday, November 2, 2017 11:18 AM

NVSRR

The motorbrushes are not contacting propperly to transmit power at low voltage.   That could be a few causes. Worn brushes to the point the springs dont apply enough preassure.   Bad springs.  Brushes are bad. Or commutator needs a good cleaning.  That has been my experience with that problem

 

Wolfie

 

That is a good point. I will have a closer look sine the motor is anyway on my desk. Thanks for pointing out.

A short time later: The commutator is black and the entire brush units are very oily. I assume the burned oil at the commutator/brush caused the problem. The motor runs fine now :-) Thanks a lot

Reinhard

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Germany
  • 524 posts
Posted by faraway on Friday, November 3, 2017 3:29 AM

The engine started smooth and nice next morning :-)

Reinhard

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