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Harry Potter Help Please

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Posted by Kooljock1 on Thursday, November 8, 2007 2:15 PM
I spoke to a new Hogwarts owner this afternoon, and he's an H.O. guy. He thinks there is a capacitor of some sort to feed continuous lighting power to the headlight and smoke unit, and that the train needs a few seconds on start-up to charge this.

I cannot verify, as I haven't seen one run. Yet!

Jon Cool [8D]
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 8, 2007 2:23 PM
 Jumijo wrote:

Your question was already answered. Here and on OGR. You're not listening. Just because it doesn't work the way YOU think it's supposed to doesn't mean there is something wrong with it.

 Jumijo wrote:

Roland,

I've tried to tell this guy...I have several Lionel trains that do this. They all run as they are intended to. He just doesn't want to hear it. So let him watch his train take off like a rabbit at 1/2 full throttle. When he gets sick of that, he can take it to a repair shop, where it will stay for weeks, and it will come back the same as he brought it in - working as it was designed to.

 Just because I wanted to get other peoples opinions and get the thread back on topic doesn't mean I wasn't listening.  You are not the end all of train guru's.  Besides, I didn't post the same thing on OGR as I did here.  Over at OGR the thread is titled, "Who's Got Problems With Their Hogwarts?"  I noticed several people posting initial problems with their engines and it seemed as though quality control for this set wasn't as good as it should be.  It was a perfect place for people to post their problems as every first run is bound to have problems.  It would be good to see if the same issue was happening.  Not to mention there are many posts with people who have not seen or heard of this "delay."  Are you going to flame them too? OGR seems to have a lot of people in the industry reading and perhaps someone at LIonel would read it and be informed the problem.  People there offered their own advice as to what my particular problem was.

 

 Talk about wise guys...

 

Thanks to everyone else who offered your thoughts.  When I have some time, I'll give it a little lube job and break it in.

 

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Posted by Jumijo on Friday, November 9, 2007 5:10 AM

 

I may not be "the end all of train gurus", but I was 100% correctamundo about your train's NON problem.  

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Joe Hohmann on Friday, November 9, 2007 7:29 AM
Guess I may as well add my 2 cents here. My HP engine has a start-up delay of about 1 second. If you only give it enough power to turn on the headlight, you have full control of the start-up. A bit more, and it will start slowly. Remember, each "real" steam engine had it's own "personality" in regards to running. I love the looks of this set, and feel it would have been worth twice the price. Joe
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Posted by Jumijo on Friday, November 9, 2007 7:43 AM

 Joe Hohmann wrote:
Guess I may as well add my 2 cents here. My HP engine has a start-up delay of about 1 second. If you only give it enough power to turn on the headlight, you have full control of the start-up. A bit more, and it will start slowly. Remember, each "real" steam engine had it's own "personality" in regards to running. I love the looks of this set, and feel it would have been worth twice the price. Joe

 

Geez, where have I heard that before? Thanks, and best of luck with your HP set, Joe.

 

 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 9, 2007 1:49 PM
 Jumijo wrote:

 

I may not be "the end all of train gurus", but I was 100% correctamundo about your train's NON problem.  

 

Well, you're 100% something that's for sure.  Since you obviously read my post on the other forum, and the post here- can you explain why my engine takes off when I cycle it into neutral????  I'm no guru either but none of my other Lionel, MTH, or Williams take off when in neutral so this IS a problem.  I cycled it into neutral by throttling down and by using the direction button and it still did the same thing.  You also didn't give any suggestions why it may wobble as it goes down the track. 

Now, why do you feel nessessary to treat a fellow forum member like this using sarcasm at my expense?

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Posted by Jumijo on Friday, November 9, 2007 2:10 PM
 DaylightFan wrote:

Well, you're 100% something that's for sure. 

What a well thought out response. 

Since you obviously read my post on the other forum, and the post here- can you explain why my engine takes off when I cycle it into neutral???? 

Yes I can. But I'm not going to because of your attitude in your last two posts. 

I'm no guru either but none of my other Lionel, MTH, or Williams take off when in neutral so this IS a problem.  I cycled it into neutral by throttling down and by using the direction button and it still did the same thing.  You also didn't give any suggestions why it may wobble as it goes down the track. 

I gave you clear, helpful tips on page one. So from now on, talk to the hand, because I don't care about your problems. I'm not helping you anymore. 

Now, why do you feel nessessary to treat a fellow forum member like this using sarcasm at my expense?

What sarcasm? I posted several well-intended replies to your problem. Have you even taken my suggestions and tried them? Good luck with your Hogwarts. I'm not wasting any more time on it. And that's all she wrote.

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 9, 2007 3:23 PM

Believe me I had plenty of other choice words but I thought I should keep it somewhat respectful for this forum.  Now let's recount.  You gave ONE response to my origional post here, someone else gave a response then you responded to them.  Then there was a post that started the thread down a different direction.  I wanted to hear some more oppinions so I said "to get back on topic" then I asked a completely different question!  (But still had to do with the topic.)  I asked if anyone else's engine did this.  Then you posted your sarcastic remark about me.  Several other people posted nice responses to my origional question.  I had a chance to get on here and read through them all.  So I responded and also defended myself and explained my post on the other forum to set the record straight.  You came back with another sarcastic remark. 

 I honestly like reading your posts.  I think they are informative.  I think you are very knowledgeable. I think you've done a fantastic job with your layout making fastrack look very realistic.  I just can't figure out why you attacked me in the first place saying that I'm not listening?  I only posted one sentence and all of the sudden the fight was on.  Maybe you enjoy the fight, I dunno. 

I'll try to end this disagreement by saying this.  Just because we had a little back and forth on here doesn't mean we can never talk again.  You're still okay in my book, afterall you're a rail fan and a 3-rail Lionel guy to boot.  Nothing bad about that.

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Posted by Bob Keller on Friday, November 9, 2007 3:55 PM
Guys, let's chill out a bit. I don't think the intention was to start bashing Lionel or anybody else.

Sarcasm might be great for Don Rickles, but it really doesn't wear well in a forum, so use it wisely.

Sometimes this forum reminds me of the neighborhood where I live - a lot of little old ladies clucking about who brought potato salad when she was supposed to bring fruit salad to the neighborhood block party in 1968. 40 years on and grudges are still held.

Lets save the vitriol for something important, not toy trains.

Bob Keller

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Posted by Jumijo on Friday, November 9, 2007 3:56 PM
 DaylightFan wrote:

Believe me I had plenty of other choice words but I thought I should keep it somewhat respectful for this forum.  Now let's recount.  You gave ONE response to my origional post here, someone else gave a response then you responded to them.  Then there was a post that started the thread down a different direction.  I wanted to hear some more oppinions so I said "to get back on topic" then I asked a completely different question!  (But still had to do with the topic.)  I asked if anyone else's engine did this.  Then you posted your sarcastic remark about me.  Several other people posted nice responses to my origional question.  I had a chance to get on here and read through them all.  So I responded and also defended myself and explained my post on the other forum to set the record straight.  You came back with another sarcastic remark. 

 I honestly like reading your posts.  I think they are informative.  I think you are very knowledgeable. I think you've done a fantastic job with your layout making fastrack look very realistic.  I just can't figure out why you attacked me in the first place saying that I'm not listening?  I only posted one sentence and all of the sudden the fight was on.  Maybe you enjoy the fight, I dunno. 

I'll try to end this disagreement by saying this.  Just because we had a little back and forth on here doesn't mean we can never talk again.  You're still okay in my book, afterall you're a rail fan and a 3-rail Lionel guy to boot.  Nothing bad about that.

You're still ok in my book too. I was just frustrated at what I perceived to be you ignoring our advice. I respond to people's questions in an effort to be helpful. And I was speaking from experience trying to help you get past the delayed start up. Once you get used to it, and realize it isn't a defective operation, you might grow to like it. I have. As I said before, good luck with your train.

 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Jumijo on Friday, November 9, 2007 4:08 PM

 Ogaugeoverlord wrote:

Sometimes this forum reminds me of the neighborhood where I live - a lot of little old ladies clucking about who brought potato salad when she was supposed to bring fruit salad to the neighborhood block party in 1968. 40 years on and grudges are still held. 

Not a bad analogy. Let's see how many "little old ladies" heed it. You hockeypuck. Wink [;)]

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by chuck on Saturday, November 10, 2007 7:11 AM

On initial start up (or after the track power has been cut for more than 10 seconds), the electronic E-unit pauses for 3 seconds before allowing the engine to move.  The HE loco will consistantly start to move in either direction with no cars or tender at about 3.1-3.2 volts.  This was measured using the TPC and CAB-1 with a digital multimeter. 

The three second pause on start up was determined by pulling the track leads, dialing up the voltage using the multimeter as a guide and then placing power to the track.  On initial application, the engine sits for three seconds before it will move.  After the initial start up there is no pause between application of power and movement of the locomotive.  The three second countdown starts as soon as the headlight comes on. 

With the TPC in default speed step mode (72 steps), I can easily dial up or down in .1 volt increments and the unit's output starts at just under 2 volts.  The CW-80 is no where near as precise but if you are careful with the throttle on the CW-80 and take into account the initial delay you can get the loco to start moving without jack rabbit starts.

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Saturday, November 10, 2007 7:58 AM

 chuck wrote:

... 

With the TPC in default speed step mode (72 steps), I can easily dial up or down ...

...The CW-80 is no where near as precise ...

The CW-80 is more than 72 steps, though.  The adjustment is infinite through the throttle range.

Rob 

Rob

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Posted by USNRol on Saturday, November 10, 2007 8:52 AM
 ADCX Rob wrote:

 chuck wrote:

... 

With the TPC in default speed step mode (72 steps), I can easily dial up or down ...

...The CW-80 is no where near as precise ...

The CW-80 is more than 72 steps, though.  The adjustment is infinite through the throttle range.

Rob 

..Correct you are...just as long as the operators hand also has infinite steps!

Roland

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Posted by 8ntruck on Sunday, July 8, 2012 2:07 PM

For what it is worth, I'vei recently gotten a Hallow's Eve Express locomotive that seems to be a HP loco with a different paint scheme.  This HEE still has a hesitation before starting to move,but it does not seem to be pronounced as my HP locomotive.

I've just written this off as something that these locomotives do and learned to live with it.

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Posted by GG1 guy on Saturday, July 28, 2012 7:40 PM

I have to say I have this set, and had the same issue.  I took it apart and found that there was almost no lubrication from the factory.  After a little oil and grease in the right places and a cleaning of the wheels with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, it runs as perfectly as any model locomotive could ever be expected to.  Perfect smooth starts, no hesitation at all.  Perhaps quality control is an issue, perhaps they're skimping out on the oil and grease, but it made a world of difference for me, was easy to do, and best of all-it was free!

I see no clear reason why I should grow up...

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