freight cars

[Anonymous]

I'm relatively new to this hobby of N scaling and everything was going well and then I noticed that the last three freight cars are constantly banging into each other. It gets worse at slower speeds but it is very anoying. I have a Kato engine, Micro-Trains freight cars and Unitrack. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[IRONROOSTER]

It sounds like your are getting momentary voltage drops or power interruptions that slows your engine down a little. I suggest you clean your track and engine wheels and see if that helps.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I've had the same problem with an N-scale Lifelike E7 and an Athearn HO loco - they seem to be surging rather than running smoothly. I've cleaned both wheels and track and there's no noticable improvement (the Athearn SD40-2 that does this is brand new, only bought it 2 weeks ago). If anyone has any ideas as to how to cure it I'd be interested to hear them - this is the only Athearn loco I have that's ever done this.

[Anonymous]

I clean the track and engine wheels about every other day and there is still no improvement. I wonder if it could be the used transformer that I purcashed at a RR flea market. The transformer is a Autopulse - Momentum 1 - model 34. Is there anyway that I could test the transformer?

[IRONROOSTER]

I don't know any easy way to test the transformer other than to borrow another one and see if you still have the problem. You might take the shell off the engine and check the electrical pickups to make sure thay are pressing against the wheels (or axles - I don't know how Kato does it) as opposed to just sort of touching.

If the motor is an open frame you try cleaning the commuter (brass part that spins and makes contact with the motor brushes) with a swab and contact cleaner. I had that problem with an MDC diesel I hadn't run for a couple of years. That's shouldn't be a problem with a new engine, but you never know.
Good luck
Paul

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem in HO, it turns out my rails were not connected well enough, so I pinched the rail connectors with pliers to hug the rails tight and then soildered them.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

I've had the same problem with an N-scale Lifelike E7 and an Athearn HO loco - they seem to be surging rather than running smoothly. I've cleaned both wheels and track and there's no noticable improvement (the Athearn SD40-2 that does this is brand new, only bought it 2 weeks ago). If anyone has any ideas as to how to cure it I'd be interested to hear them - this is the only Athearn loco I have that's ever done this.

I have two Athearn SD45s and a GP7, and they ALL do that. I was beginning to think that was an Athearn trait...........'til I bought a Genesis F3A, which runs smooth as silk ..... go figure.

[cacole]

I have encountered problems with the metal strap that Athearn uses for electrical contact between the front and rear trucks and one motor brush. Sometimes these metal straps don't make good contact with the front or rear truck, or both, and this causes very erratic operation. One locomotive was so bad that it wouldn't run at all.

The best solution is to get some very flexible wire and replace this metal strap with wire soldered to the trucks and the motor.

[Wdlgln005]

With a few MTL cars & a Kato loco, you may experience the slinky effect? THis is caused by slack in the couplers. There could be some reasons for this:
1) Be sure to clean your track & wheels regularly.
2) check the track to make sure everything is connected
3) At slower speeds, does the motor begin to stall? One way to change this is to run 2 units of the same kind & see if that brings down the slow speed.
4) Watch the slack in the couplers as you start & stop. You may want to put a spring on the axle of a caboose to give more drag & less slinky.
5) check each car for weight. See if that makes any dofference. Light cars may need a load. Get some Atlas cars & compare them to MTL
6) Have fun Nscaling!

[Anonymous]

I solved the problem when I purchased a MRC power pack & a RR show. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Have a great summer!