I have a Rivarossi 2-8-8-2 dc locomotive that doesn't run on the track. I have oiled the moving parts checked all the wiring connections. But when I hook up the power to the motor the locomotive runs fine. i am don't know what the problem is can any one help me get this locomotive back on track.
Hi Tim!
Welcome to the forum!!
Caveat - I am not familiar with this specific locomotive, but lets try to narrow things down a bit. Perhaps you could answer a few more questions in order to help us identify the problem.
Are you using DC or DCC?
Did the locomotive operate properly in the past?
If you are using DCC, did it run properly before the decoder was installed or did it come with the decoder installed already?
Do other locomotives operate properly on the same track that you are using to test the locomotive?
There are a ton more questions that can be asked but this will give us a bit of a base to work from.
Please sit back for a moment and try to recall all the things that you have done with this engine and give us a brief history.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Three areas, which could cause the loco not on the track, come to my mind:
Hold it!
It is a Rivarossi, then you must have the tender connected to the loco! Do you have that?
Or maybe one tender truck is rotated 180°?
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Rivarossi made two versions of the 2-8-8-2, one with the can motor in the boiler and one with the motor in the cab. If you have the one with the motor in the cab you must have the tender attached as it picks up power from the track. The drawbar has a spring like wire on it that makes contact with the metal pin on the tender.
If connecting the tender on the track doesn't work, try applying power to the drawbar and one of the loco drive wheels (whichever side has the wiper contacts touching the inside of the drive wheel). If that works then there is a problem with the tender wiring or pickups on the wheels.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I am using DC transformer for power to all my tracks.
Yes, the locomotive did operate in the past.
I tried other locomotives on all my tracks and they worked properly. Including my test track.
I have oiled the running gear on the locomotive, replaced the knuckle coupler with a kadee coupler on the tender, I also opened up the locomotive, to see if all the electric connections where good and also checked the gearing for the wheels to see if there was any problems.
I had a Rivarossi IHB 0-8-0 of about the same vintage and it had the same problem. I ended up soldering a new connection from metal frame to motor brush. I have no idea why the original connection ceased to deliver current to the motor
The little "pin" that creates contact with the tender of the 2-8-8-2 is also prone to dirt and corrosion. Test that as well. And the metal tabs that rest on the tender axles are easily bent to cease that contact so that too needs some attention
Dave Nelson
tim68 But when I hook up the power to the motor the locomotive runs fine.
since you know how to test the loco with wires to the motor, why not try testing it by connecting your bench supply (or whatever) to the wheels? This way you can figure out where the problem is.
you'll need to be careful to figure out which wheels are connected to which side of the motor, otherwise you may short the supply. If you have meter, try a continuity check to determine which motor connection is to which wheels on the loco or tender
you can try connecting the bench supply to one side of the motor and the other side of the bench supply to the loco wheels on one side or the other.
then move the wire from the motor to the pin connecting the tender
then connect the tender and connect the bench supply from the tender pin to the wheels on the tender.
hopefully you get the idea
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Graffen Hold it! It is a Rivarossi, then you must have the tender connected to the loco! Do you have that? Or maybe one tender truck is rotated 180°?
I would agree w/ Graffen, first to check would be the tender trucks. They can very easily spin around, causing a short.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
I had the same problem. And I had one of the tender trucks backward. Since you replaced the coupler on the tender, that truck had to be removed. Check the inside of the wheels on the tender - the Made in Italy should be on the same side on both the front and back trucks. My 2-8-8-2 is 50 years old. And it runs very well.
The tender wheels are plastic. Where as, my Bershire tender wheels are metal and they have pick-up plates on the wheels.