Little problem with my 1615. When I go over 022 switches the 1615 stops in the middle of the switch. Why does it do this?? None of my other loco's do this. Is it because of the pickups?? They are different from my other loco's pickups. But, when I speed across the switches the loco does not stop in the middle of the switch. Any ideas? Thanks.
I think you have diagnosed your problem. One way to fix this is the get a tether for one wire or make you one [use a bullet connetor crimpted on a flexable stranded wire]. Get a truck with a pickup [some you can add a pickup too] for the tender. Then you solder the tender pickup to the wire with connector. Then run another wire with the mating connector to the wire coming from the engine's pickup. Plug in the connectors to each other. You have now extended the distance from one pickup to the other and thus will make it across switches. Good luck.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
One item I remember from a previous discussion, is to make sure both pickups are working. It was so simple. The tender pickup is the solution.
Here is the cause of your problem. The 3rd rail at the point end of the switch (the fat rail in the center) needs the end bent up slightly. For some reason, the ends are usually bent down and a 1615 switch engine will have both of its contact rollers off the 3rd rail. This is a very easy fix and can be done without taking anything apart. Just use a small screwdriver and don't overdo it. I have a 1615 and it doesn't stop on the switches anymore.
Now a word about the 1615. The one I have is very nose heavy. I have some lead wheel weights (the kind with sticky tape for allow wheels) which I intend to add to the aft end of the locomotive to get the cg more nearly centered over the drive wheels. This loco had been dropped by the previous owner, and I had to straighten the axels. Easily done with a large pair of pliers.
How do I make sure both pickups are working correctly?? I will check my 022 switches for issues. And I will check to see if indeed the pickups are comming off the middle rail. thanks.
Let us know if that works.
The 1615 has a copper piece on its drawbar that electrically connects the tender's wheels to the drive wheels. Does your engine have that piece, and is it snugly attached to the engine and tender? If not,you might be having problems with keeping contact with the outer rails instead of the center rail. Just another place to look,
J White
Yes, my 1615 has this copper piece on the drawbar. Like you said, the engine and tender fit snug together. I have to use 2 hands to get the engine off of the tender its so snug on there. I will check that, to make sure that part did not fail. But, the 1615 works fine on other switches at slow speeds. Maybe its just the other switch is not level and not making good contact with center rail. Thanks.
Well, doesn't sound like that's the problem. I was hoping it was going to be something simple like that for you
It is something simple. There was corrosion on the drawbar that connects to the tender. Some blue or green residue, that was keeping the connection good. So I took a brillo pad and scrubbed off the blue stuff and put some track cleaner stuff on it. Now it works great!!! Boy, this little engine moves fast and nice over switches now. The copper is nice and shiny now. Thanks.
I'm glad you got the little engine going.
Yeah, I did get the little engine going again. Thanks.
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