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Engine Runs Better in Reverse Than Forward

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  • Member since
    December 2016
  • 554 posts
Engine Runs Better in Reverse Than Forward
Posted by Shock Control on Saturday, November 14, 2020 7:07 PM

Taking my HO locomotives out of the mothballs for the upcoming holiday season.  

What might it suggest if an engine runs better in reverse than forward?  In this case, it not only goes faster in reverse, but also more smoothly.  Running forward, it goes slower and sputters.  

It was cleaned and lubed.  Also, it is a steam engine, so I don't know if the side rods are a factor.

Any ideas?

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, November 14, 2020 7:11 PM

I have a BLI Hudson that behaved like that for a while.  It was a slippage in the drive train.  A drop of CA fixed it.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by Shock Control on Saturday, November 14, 2020 7:13 PM

MisterBeasley
I have a BLI Hudson that behaved like that for a while.  It was a slippage in the drive train.  A drop of CA fixed it.

Thanks.  Pardon my ignorance, but what is CA, other than California?

  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Saturday, November 14, 2020 7:30 PM

 Classic model railroad truth - steam locomotives shall run better in reverse than they do in forward. It is and always has been this way.

 CA is cyanoacrylate adhesive - "super glue"

                                          --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
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  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, November 14, 2020 7:45 PM

rrinker

 Classic model railroad truth - steam locomotives shall run better in reverse than they do in forward. It is and always has been this way.

 CA is cyanoacrylate adhesive - "super glue"

                                          --Randy

 

 

So true!  I thought that kitbashing my Rivarossi AC-9s from Cab Forwards that the AC-9s would run better forward than reverse because they are Cab Forwards running in reverse but not so.  The Kitbashed AC-9s run better in reverse than forward, go figure.

Steam locomotives must like pushing the tenders better than towing them.Wink
 

Mel



 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

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  • From: Canada, eh?
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Posted by doctorwayne on Saturday, November 14, 2020 7:50 PM

Shock Control
What might it suggest if an engine runs better in reverse than forward? In this case, it not only goes faster in reverse, but also more smoothly. Running forward, it goes slower and sputters.

I seem to recall a similar question not that long ago...and found it HERE.  Perhaps some of those responses will be helpful.

Wayne

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, November 14, 2020 9:04 PM

I have some Athearn BB locos that act the same.

Mike.

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    August 2020
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Posted by Southgate 2 on Saturday, November 14, 2020 9:18 PM

If it's a Bachmann 4 4 0 with motor in the tender, it's because the worm gear thrusts against a much larger around surface running forward, and a very small thrust surface, thus less resistance in reverse. Dan

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  • 554 posts
Posted by Shock Control on Saturday, November 14, 2020 10:39 PM

So, why don't manufacturers put the light in the rear of the engine, and not tell the engine that they are doing this?  That way, the consumer can flip the body the other way.  Will the engine know it is running in reverse with the body facing the wrong way? 

Kind of like the way Richard Brautigan would sneakily type only a few words at a time on the typewriter, so his new novel wouldn't discover that he was writing it.  

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