It sure seems like dirty wheels, but they are not dirty? Engine will run and sound fine. Then it either has the sound stop and restart and engine does not stall. Or, there will be a quick stall and then starts moving on it own?
Sometimes it will be a little jerky when I first start running. Again sounds like dirty wheels, then smooths out a while and starts all over?
When I clean the wheels there is a little dirt, but not sold black tracks on the paper towel. Tracks seems fairly clean, I run two trains at the same time and the ABA F7's never miss a beat.
Does Walthers PK 2000 still use the clips to hold the wires on on to the side frames? I have never opned this engine.
On a side thought, are the current Walthers PK's bulit the same way as when Proto was made by Life Like?
Thanks for the coming answers!
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
They are built the same as they have always been, because they are built very well. And before we get into cracked axle gears, that was never an issue for the SD7s as their trucks are kato cloned design and not athearn cloned, so the geared axles are different.
It is not a systemic issue with the SD7. It sounds like you have an issue specific to your locomotive. It can happen with any brand and any model.
If it stalls at the same point on the tracks, its likely a track problem, perhaps a bad feeder connection.
If it stalls at different places on th track, it certainly seems like an electrical pickup problem. It could be a near-broken wire somewhere in the circuit. Its a good idea to examine the wire clips at the truck. Sometimes just removing and reinstalling might work.
There could also be an excessive amount of grease between the brass/phosphorous strip and the tip of the axles, which is where the electricity is picked up and sent to the decoder.
Or a wire connection closer to the decoder.
I'm sure others will have some thoughts.
- Douglas
Thanks for your time Doughless. I am leaning towars not great rail laying skills, maybe small dips that the 6 wheel trucks maybe bridging a little sometimes. More than likey a lose or gumed up truck pick up wire.
I will post what I find out.
Thanks again, Cuda Ken
Does the locomotive run okay?
ATFS Guy, yes it runs just fine till it stumbles. Pulling power is fine, mute the sound and there is no racket. Came close to buying a second one Thursday. Talked my self out of till I get this one working right.
Thanks for your time, Ken
It's possible that you are getting momentary shorts rather than dropouts. Put another engine near one of your problem spots, idling with the lights on. When your SD7 stalls, what happens to the lights? If the lights in the other engine blink, you're getting a short. If not, it's probably a dropout.
If you've got your layout divided into districts with circuit breakers, make sure the second loco is in the same district.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.