My son and I recently purchased a N-scale Rivarossi 4-6-6-2 Pacific (I think that's right) set on a trip. When we returned home to give it a go, we discovered that the train will not run when it is placed on the track. I have tested the train off the track where it seems to run fine being powered directly through the motor or through the wheels and tender (as though it was on the track). If I hold the train barely to one side on the rails it seems to try and run. Does anyone know what the issue might be? Should some of the wheels be conductive and others not on the engine? I am at a loss here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Does the tender pick up power? One of the trucks may be turned backwards, which would cause it to short out when on the track. Turn the tender upside down and check the wheels. There should be a black plastic insulator at one end of the axles. The insulated wheels should probably all be on the same side. If they're not, you'll have to turn first one and then the other truck around to figure out which way they are supposed to be.
On HO scale Rivarossi locomotives there was a small spring wire on the tender connection that carried electricity from the tender to the locomotive. If yours is the same and you don't have that spring wire touching the metal pin on the back of the engine, you're not getting electrical continuity between the tender and locomotive.
If neither of those things solve your problem, I think you'll have to contact Rivarossi if you can. They are now owned by Hornby of England, so if this model you have is one that was made prior to Rivarossi being taken over by Hornby you may be out of luck on getting it repaired or replaced.
My father had an N-scale Rivarossi Pacific, and it picked up half of its power from the tender, much like a brass locomotive. Check to see that the stiff wire running down the tender drawbar sits firmly against the locomotive lug when they're connected. If it's loose, then you'll only get intermittent contact. It might have to be re-soldered.
Also check to see if one or both of the tender trucks have been accidently turned around. On these locomotives, the locomotive picks up power from the engineer's side (the right, if you're looking at the front of the loco) and the tender picks up power from the fireman's side (left). The insulated wheels of the tender on the Rivarossi are black plastic where the axle goes into the wheel (which is kind of hard to see in N-scale), the pickup wheels are solid metal. All solid metal wheels should be on the left hand side.
Hope this helps.
Tom
Oops, I see Cacole beat me to it!
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
This might be it. The locomotive picks up power from one rail through the locomotive wheels and the tender picks up power from the other rail.
On the tender you'll notice that there are solid metal wheels on one end of each axle and plastic centered wheels on the other end. Sometimes one truck is rotated so that its solid wheels are opposite the other truck's solid wheels. Make sure the solid wheels are all on the same side and then try it. If it doesn't run at all, rotate both trucks so that the solid wheels touch the other rail.
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
I assume you have other engines that run OK on the track, so you know it's not the track??
Try touching one trucks wheels with one lead, and one truck's wheels with the other lead (from the powerpack). If it causes a short, then both sets of insulated wheels should be on the same side. Some tenders pick up from one rail with one truck and the other rail with the other truck, some are designed to just pick up from one side.
BTW a Pacific is a 4-6-2, four small front wheels, six big driving wheels, then two small trailing wheels.
Sounds like One of the tender trucks could be turrned the wrong way.(This would short out the current flow.in one rail and shut everything.down).
Check to make sure polarity.of all wheels are Kosher, first..
Is there any way to tell when a DC power pack is shorting out? Or is that only with DCC? That would be a big help in diagnosing the problem...
ALL powering souces should have Circuit breaker (fuse) required by Underwriters Lab..
This includes DC and DCC.
Some of the better power packs, such as those from MRC, have overload lights and/or internal circuit breakers. But if you're using a cheapy power pack that came with the train set, it might not have any circuit protection at all if it's not UL approved. Note that the OP says they bought it "on a trip" but doesn't say where, and if it was bought overseas there is no requirement that it comply with U.S. laws or UL testing.
Don GibsonALL powering souces should have Circuit breaker (fuse) required by Underwriters Lab..
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
I assume when the OP says the engine works when tested off the tracks, he's using the same power pack??
Also on the subject of rivarossi locomotives, another thing to watch for after you make sure you have the tender trucks turned right, is to look at where the contacts touch the axles. they seem to get a carbon (?) buildup that needs to be cleaned from time to time. If anyone knows of something that could be applied to the axles to prevent this, I would like to know what could be used, or how else to solve this problem. Thanks . Jerry
Thanks for the quick feedback from everyone. Turns out one of the trucks was reversed. My son was very happy to see his new train make a few quick laps around the track this morning before school.