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Does a an old transformer effect a newer Locomotive?

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  • Member since
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Does a an old transformer effect a newer Locomotive?
Posted by CrossTrack Trains on Friday, March 25, 2005 9:00 AM
I recently got a new Bachmann Locomotive. I put it on my layout, however my transformer is an old one and the new Bachmann runs extremely slow and will quit after a bit then will run again a few moments and then quit again. Is this a power/transformer issue? or is new Locomotive defective?

By the way my older locomotive runs fine on the same layout.
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Posted by Javern on Friday, March 25, 2005 9:39 AM
i use old transformers with no probs. Is your track clean? how about the wheels on the loco, make sure they are clean. Also make sure the track does not have some power issues, bad connections between segments.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 25, 2005 9:50 AM
Was it brand new? Or used and just new for you?
If the latter maybe it needs to be cleaned and oiled inside.
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Posted by CrossTrack Trains on Friday, March 25, 2005 10:02 AM
Track works fine with old loco, inside the new one is clean I took it apart and the engine itself runs slow.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 25, 2005 11:11 AM
One thing to check: does the drivetrain roll freely? This could be something as simple as a piece of flash rubbing in the gearing somewhere. Also worth checking is that everything is where it should be - I have a Bachmann N F7 which had a similar problem (ran slowly and got hot), until I discovered that the factory had bodged the truck assembly so one of the pickups was mangled and not in the right place. A few minutes work with some flat-jawed pliers solved this problem (removed pickup, straightened it, re-fitted it). From what you're saying I'm wondering if the loco is slowly jamming up (which would trip the overload circuit in the power unit) then moving off again when this resets. Try putting both locos on the track at the same time (not coupled together) and see if the older one is affected by the new one - if my theory is correct it will stop at the same time as the new one.

Best advice I can give would be to get in touch with Bachmann - if it's motor-related then curing it could be very tricky, and if it's a brand new loco then you should be able to return it under guarantee - Bachmann's service department are very good by most accounts. Hope this helps!
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Posted by CrossTrack Trains on Friday, March 25, 2005 2:35 PM
Thanks for you help.
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Posted by Don Gibson on Friday, March 25, 2005 3:30 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cactusjawas

I recently got a new Bachmann Locomotive. I put it on my layout, however my transformer is an old one and the new Bachmann runs extremely slow and will quit after a bit then will run again a few moments and then quit again. Is this a power/transformer issue? ?


COULD BE - if your use of the word "Transformer" is correct. (TRANSFORMERS are strictly A.C. ) and 'HO is DC. [xx(]

If your "Transformer" is a 'Power Pak' (D.C.), then the probability IS the Engine is the problem. Take it to a LHS for testing. [^]
Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
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Posted by steveblackledge on Friday, March 25, 2005 3:48 PM
when i use my BN loco's on my sons hornby railway transformer they run very slow compared to his hornby stuff and it does not take long for it to get hot, i use a much more powerfull DC transformer on my layout and they run at the correct speed,
try another quallity transformer or take the loco to sombody elses layout for a run

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