I bought a pair of Sound Value S4's a few years ago and they were some of the best running locos I owned. After a few months, though, one started to hesitate. Later, this loco refused to move although the sounds still worked. Upon examination, I found that some of the plastic caps on the decoder contact pads had come loose. I pushed the caps back on and the loco ran well again. To make sure this never happened again. I removed all the plastic caps on both locos, soldered all the wires to their respective cantact pads, then replaced the caps. Both locos continued to run well for quite some time. About six months ago, both locos started hesitating and stalling and just didn't run anywhere near as well as they used to. I checked all the connections on the decoders (still good) and cleaned all the wheels (treads and inside faces) plus cleaned the bronze wheel wipers. One loco responded but the other did not. I let them sit a couple of weeks and both locos ran like crap again. They became so bad that I took them off the layout and placed them in storage. I am very disappointed with these locos.
Hornblower
I'm about done with mine, will probably but it out in a garage sale and list it cheap and a handy man special.
Had one I sent for repairs twice and then returned it to the store as it did not run at all after 2nd repairm I think it was just a bad solder joint from new motor but by that time I was done with it.
A few years ago I got a Vermont Rail S4 DC switcher. Right out of the box it ran terribly, it would hesitate on start up, run erratically etc. My LHS said it felt like something was binding in the motor so I contacted Bachmann and sent it back. They sent me a new one and it acts the same way. I looked at it as a challenge and decided to keep this one and work on it myself. I checked the trucks and gears seem to be ok and adjusted the pickup wipers so they make contact with the wheels better. The motor seems ok runs when power is put to it. When I get everything back together it runs lousy. However if running it a day or two later I hold the loco in place on the track and give it full power it will run great for that day. If I don't do that it runs lousy again.
Has anyone else had issues like this and if so what did you do to remedy the problem?
Thanks, Bruce