Surging engine

[Anonymous]

We run an oval with ez track around our Christmas Tree. It's the only time our train comes out. I have two engines and they both run fine - nice and smooth. I just bought a new engine this year. A C & O Chessie System LOCO 2-8-2 MIKADO International Hobby Corp. Premier Series. It ran fine for a few days, but now it surges. I don't get it, the other engines run fine. Should I have lubricated the new one? There were no instructions in the box.

Thanks,

Dave

[Anonymous]

Hello Dave,
Interesting problem you have there..... I have a similar difficulty with my IHC 4-6-2 Pacifics. My only suggestion would be to use lubricants (I prefer Bachmann EZ Lube products). Use some heavy gear oil on the driver rods and some conductive contact lube on the wheels. Somehow I think that IHC engines that do not have an electrical connection to their tenders are notorious for this.

Russ
Reading, PA

[Anonymous]

In comparison to all wheel diesel electrical pickup(assuming this is what you have) steam locos can be quite finicky-temperamental and problematic.

Part of the problem with steam is insufficient
electrical pickups and as your loco rides over poorly connected rail/dirty track/dirty wheels, the locomotive momentarily loses electric contact.

Those units that have a combination of loco plus tender pickups can bridge this problem thus allowing for a smoother operating loco.

Generally there is at least 2 1/2" distance between diesel all pickup trucks so the any track problems may un-noticed.

Any lubrication should be moderate but is not an all cure solution.
IHC does make loco/tender models with electrical pick-ups like the 4-8-2 mountain etc.
Perhaps you can exchange your model.

[Anonymous]

If everything else fails and you don't hear from Nigel(HO Steam Boiler License) of this forum you can
also e-mail,- [e-mail] or call them at 1-800-875-1600

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all that replied. I think I will try to clean the track. What do you think of those cleaning cars? Or should I use the eraser type cleaners?

Dave

[Anonymous]

Speaking from hands on experience, on smaller layouts you can be just as effective or better than the cars.

Use a small block of wood and t-shirt material wrapped around it.
Wet the t-shirt with rubbing alcohol($1.00) and glide it on top of the rails.

The better car, $64.00 is the centerline.
www.centerline-products.com
The superior car,$99.00 is the clean machine.
http://ttx-dcc.com/technews/clean-machine.htm

I did own centerline but traded up to the clean machine.

[Anonymous]

CORRECTION IN THE ABOVE ADDRESS.

http://ttx-dcc.com/technewsnews/clean_machine.htm

That's an underscore line_between clean_machine

This site will also tell you about cleaning track/wheel procedures.

[Anonymous]

The same thing happened to me only with an Athearn 2-8-2 light Mikado. The problem was the contact surface between the wheel axles and the bushings they ride in within the engine frame. It was a painstaking job, but I took the engine apart and found that the main gear drive was way overlubricated and after running the engine a while, lube had flowed onto the axles, affecting the electrical contact surfaces which led to the surging problem. I cleaned the axles and bushings with goo gone on a Q tip, relubricated sparingly, and reassembled the engine. After that the Mike operated perfectly smoothly again. I don't recommend this procedure, however, unless you have some experience with steam loco disassembly, good eyes, good dexterity, and lots of patience. It's not an easy job even for someone who has done it before. If you are uncomfortable at all, take it back to the store you bought it from and have them clean it or replace it.

Before you do anything, though, try simply cleaning the drive wheels with goo gone. This could also cause the problem.

Good Luck!