LOCO Hit the Floor

[SLAY3439]

Very new to model railroading and as I was trying to test out a new Southern 7080 with a E-Z Command Plus controller when my dog ran by and took the whole thing off the table and onto to floor. Now the LOCO does not move and the lights on the controller flash along with a clicking sound from the coal car. If I pick up the coal car it will make the standard Loco sound and does move but as soon as I replace the coal car it starts clicking and the controller starts flashing again. Any idea where I should start troubleshooting?

[wrench567]

  Welcome to the forum.

  When you say coal car, do you mean the locomotive tender? It sounds like you have a short circuit causing your controller to reset. Look at the tender trucks and possibly one is turned around.

    Pete.

[hon30critter]

Hi SLAY3439,

That's terrible! No treats for the dog for a while!

Checking to see that one of the tender trucks is not turned 180 degrees is a good place to start. Hopefully that's all that is wrong.

You can check to see if the tender trucks are oriented the right way by looking at the wheels where the axles go into them. On one side of the wheels there will be insulating bushings and on the other side the axles will be mounted directly into the wheels. The insulated wheels should be on one side for the front truck and on the opposite side for the other truck.

If that isn't the problem I would consider sending the locomotive back to the manufacturer if possible.

Good luck!

Cheers!!

Dave

[SeeYou190]

How much damage was there to the locomotive shell?

-Kevin