Hi all,
I recently acquired a Blackstone K-27 that has an issue. The locomotive starts up when placed on the track, sound and lighting functions work, but it does not move, instead it makes a ticking noise and the headlight flashes. Any ideas as to what the problem might be? I suspect the motor wires between the tender and the locomotive might be shorted, but I cant tell.
Thanks,
Andrew
Should add:
NCE PowerCAB dcc system. The PowerCab does not shut down. Other locomotives work with no issues identified.
No matter what it's an "open it and see" situation -- clicking sounds like maybe a gear tooth is broken (or maybe something's stuck in the gearbox / siderod linkage).
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
Ive got it completely stripped down. The mechanism moves quietly with motor/worm removed. The motor is able to be rotated by hand. The motor turns the drive train when its installed and I move it by hand.
Ive tested the motor on Direct Current (removed from chasis and de-wired from decoder, it spins.
Solution:
Early 2006 run K-27s had a Motor overlubrication issue, which is exhibited by a puff of smoke leaving motor when running on DC as the oil burns off. Corrective action is to order a new motor from Soundtraxx. While I was at it, I had them send me a new wiring harness for it because I happen to know that the magnet wire insulation breaks down and causes shorts, which would present itself later. Excellent service from Soundtraxx/Blackstone.
BMMECNYCI had them send me a new wiring harness for it because I happen to know that the magnet wire insulation breaks down and causes shorts, which would present itself later.
Is that statement true of all magnet wire?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy BMMECNYC I had them send me a new wiring harness for it because I happen to know that the magnet wire insulation breaks down and causes shorts, which would present itself later. Is that statement true of all magnet wire?
BMMECNYC I had them send me a new wiring harness for it because I happen to know that the magnet wire insulation breaks down and causes shorts, which would present itself later.
I think its just the wire they used in these locomotives and cyclic bending due to sharp curves. Both of these are known issues with the Blackstone K-27s.
Pretty much, if it rubs on things, or gets heated. The insulation is just a thing layer of enamel. ANY wire that repeatedly rubs against a harder will eventually wear through, and if it's metal that is grounded to something, it will end up shorting. But the magnet wire is easier to wear through - you can strip it for solderign with a few swipes of sandpaper, or just heat it and burn off the enamel. It's what happend when a motor overheats, if it gets too hot, the enamel breaks down and the windings short, making it even hotter until the wire itself melts. Magnet wire is great for small spaces, like running up a signal mast, but it is not a good choice for something that needs to flex and move.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
It sounds like a cracked gear or a gear jumping because something is blocking the drivetrain. If not the gear, it could be the side rods jamming. I don't have one of these, but you should be able to remove the boiler and operating it with the boiler off to see what is going on. If all is relatively normal without the boiler on (lack of weight will affect it), then something is blocking with the boiler on, like a loose wire.
Simon
snjroy It sounds like a cracked gear or a gear jumping because something is blocking the drivetrain. If not the gear, it could be the side rods jamming. I don't have one of these, but you should be able to remove the boiler and operating it with the boiler off to see what is going on. If all is relatively normal without the boiler on (lack of weight will affect it), then something is blocking with the boiler on, like a loose wire. Simon
Its not either of those things. Once the combination motor and worm gear is removed, the chasis rolls freely.
I discovered that it is a known problem with the 2006 run of K-27s. The factory basically filled the motor with oil. When I took the motor out an ran it on DC, I got a bright white flash and smoke from the motor as the oil was burned off at high speed.
Im also replacing the wiring harness as a precaution because its made of magnet wire, and I know thats a failure point on this locomotive.