i was runing the locomotive when it just stoped and wont move a single bit and it was not a burn out because it smelled fine so what could it be?
Brand new, as in bought from Kato? or a dealer/hobby shop?
Make sure your track has power.
If your not familiar with trouble shooting a locomotive, and all that's involved, and, it is brand new from a Kato, or a hobby shop, take it back, as most hobby shops have test track set up, let them try it.
If you are familiar with Kato locomotives, check where the wires connect to the pick-up strip, that is on the inside of the trucks.
The wire is held in place with little black push-on caps. One of those might have come off.
Mike.
My You Tube
I agree that if you bought it at a store, take it back and let them test it. Don't even try to do it yourself.
If you bought it online, then you can check wires, connections, etc., before you lose several weeks of shipping and trying to communcate long distance.
Good luck. Let us know what happens.
York1 John
Is this HO or N scale? I have had both and never had this happen, but there was some time back that Kato had some electrical pick up issues with some HO SD40-2 locomotives that had to be hard wired to get to operate well, but this has been a while and Kato fixed the problem of future runs. Could this be new old stock or is it a recent run?
Ralph
Make sure your layout isnt shorted.
If its not, then try to take off the shell and put power leads onto the motor, and see if it runs.
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
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I have tested the track it works fine and the loco is ho scale i think i am just gonna have my local hobby shop fix it
No I meant make sure your layout isnt shorted when the engine is placed on the track. Aka, put another engine on the track along with the kato engine and see if it runs. If its not responding either, then your kato engine is creating a short.
i have tested it and it is the locomotive that is having issues and i dont think i should try to fix it i am just having my local hobby store do it
GN24i have tested it and it is the locomotive that is having issues and i dont think i should try to fix it i am just having my local hobby store do it
Good idea.
Don't start messing around inside a brand new locomotive when you have the store nearby. If they can't get it running, you'll probably get a new locomotive. If you mess around with it, they may claim you did the damage.
GN24 i was runing the locomotive when it just stoped and wont move a single bit and it was not a burn out because it smelled fine so what could it be?
If I bought something brand new and it broke the first day, it would go right back to whomever I bought it from. I wouldn't even attempt to fix it. I wouldn't do that with anything else I bought. Why should I be expected to do that with a model railroading item?
In another post, the OP said that he painted the loco first so I don't know if it would be returnable.
Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader. And a Model Railroader can fix it.
What are you going to do in two years when something breaks? I bought a GG-1, and it didn't make it around the layout on Day 1. I realized the couplers were garbage, so I swapped them for Kadees. Probably voided the warranty. But I got good couplers.
Believe in yourself.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader. And a Model Railroader can fix it. What are you going to do in two years when something breaks? I bought a GG-1, and it didn't make it around the layout on Day 1. I realized the couplers were garbage, so I swapped them for Kadees. Probably voided the warranty. But I got good couplers. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself.
Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise. If it's defective it should go back to the store where you bought it for replacement or refund. They can return it to where they got it from and get credit for it. Let the manufacture with the poor quality control eat the cost of fixing it.
John-NYBWohn-NYBW wrote the following post 2 minutes ago: MisterBeasley Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader. And a Model Railroader can fix it. Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise?
Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
John-NYBW MisterBeasley Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader. And a Model Railroader can fix it. What are you going to do in two years when something breaks? I bought a GG-1, and it didn't make it around the layout on Day 1. I realized the couplers were garbage, so I swapped them for Kadees. Probably voided the warranty. But I got good couplers. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise. If it's defective it should go back to the store where you bought it for replacement or refund. They can return it to where they got it from and get credit for it. Let the manufacture with the poor quality control eat the cost of fixing it.
Well, if he did take it apart and paint it, I think it is his.....
Now a good dealer or manufacturer might help him out, but at that point is is not just a defective toaster.
If I buy a brand new car, and start messing around with adding or changing things, the more I do the more I limit the responsibility of the manufacturer.
But this is becoming a hobby of "model collectors" not model builders........
This is why modeles should get some test run time before they get painted, kit bashed or whatever.
If it is still out of the box "pristine" take it back and stops working in one day, take it back.
Sheldon
John-NYBW Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from?
Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from?
Rich
Alton Junction
Yes, that is the issue. If it was undecortated, or the factory paint was stripped and the model repainted, it's not really returnable. Likely problem is simply a loose wire from having the shell off to paint it, really. Simple fix. Costs less of my time to simply fix it than to drive back to the store, or pack it up and mail it back if purchased online.
Hopefully not something more serious like paint getting on the motor. But even that can be cleaned up, just have to be careful with what is used so as not to damage the shell in the process.
As Sheldon mentioned - test first. If it worked perfectly fine before taking it apart to paint, guarantee it's a loose wire type of thing - of course with DCC a loose wire can mean a blown decoder if it touches the wrong spot. I guess I need to follow that advice with the Atlas RS3 I got a few months ago, DC version which I haven't even had out of the box yet. Don't have a way to run it, but I can power it from my bench power supply to verify it at least turns. Even if I will be putting a sound decoder in it before it every actually runs on the rails.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I recall a run of KATO SD40-2's (early) had electrical issues with the pickups and contacts. I wonder if this is from that run.
If the OP did take the engine apart to paint it, it begs the question of if he did a break-in / test run with it before taking it apart, or waited until after and then the problem popped up. I always do a break-in run (10 min. or so in each direction steady running) on DC first before doing anything else with a new engine. I have had it happen that an engine failed during a DC break-in run, and had to be sent back to the manufacturer.
The original run of Kato SD40-2's in HO had N scale style power strips that copper nubs on the trucks pickups rubbed against. While it works great in N scale, for one reason or another it was problematic in HO if the trucks moved in just the right position they would loose contact with that strip. I had a pair that I "high hooded" for NS and during that process, soldered pickup wires on each side of the truck to those nubs, removed the copper strips and hard wired those wires to the motor feeds. With the model custom painted, it wont be returnable. But if the OP cannot repair it himself, the shop can or has someone they can refer him to most likely. I do some of this type of work for a shop down in Indy, mostly on brass but also other stuff their in house tech cannot get to or is unable to repair like axle gears on steamers. Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
John-NYBW If I bought something brand new and it broke the first day, it would go right back to whomever I bought it from. I wouldn't even attempt to fix it. I wouldn't do that with anything else I bought. Why should I be expected to do that with a model railroading item?
I fully disagree with the above statement.
It is sad the current RTR state of model railroading is these days. Back then, many scratch built their own engines. Others bought kits and customized engines themselves. There was the art and pride of having personal customized models that few other owned. Soon, RTR models made the need to assemble/create one's own models unnecessary. Now its to a point where modelers expect models to be delievered as perfectly operating condition, and any small issue will make them return the model for a refund. The long days of customizing your own models, or atleast troubleshooting them is gone, with this current inability of even taking the shell off.
OP, Im not saying being afraid of troubleshooting is bad, I understand the fear of damaging your model especially when your experience is limited in that area. But the outright refusal to troubleshoot a model and simply blame the manufacturer as the quoted above reply implies, is what I have a problem with. Likely, some wire got loose inside the engine, and it'll take 5 seconds to fix.
Model railroading is fundamentally a very hands on hobby, the fact that most manufacturers preassemble your models is great, but that doesn't mean you can expect to never have to disassemble your engines ever (for maintainence, replacing parts, adding decoders, etc). Be willing to eventually learn how to do so, or be prepared for a very frustrating experience.
Excuse my rant.
One good rant deserves another. If I was scratchbuilding or kit building, I would expect to do some work. If an item is sold as ready-to-run, it should be ready-to-run. RTR shouldn't mean ready-to-tinker-with. I was really baffled by this statement:
"Now its to a point where modelers expect models to be delievered as perfectly operating condition, and any small issue will make them return the model for a refund."
With any other consumer product I buy, that is the expectation and I would return it if it was not in perfect operating condition right out of the box. Why should I expect less from a model railroading product?
John-NYBW Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise.
Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise.
It is not like buying a defective toaster. One main reason you're in this hobby is to create/modify/customize your models. That's the art and beauty behind it. It's a hobby afterall, a way to pass time by tinkering with your models. It's not like bad toaster, which is not a hobby, but rather an tool. The toaster would be the equivalent of my DCC controller breaking. We are not electrical engineers, we are modelers. We work with our models, not repair circuit boards. The models we buy/make would be equivalent to the sandwich we make with the toaster. Yes, you can buy premade sandwiches, but the joy of making your own sandwich is similar to a modeler working with his trains.
It's an odd metaphor, but I hope it makes sense to most of you.
If you're in this hobby not to pass time or enjoy yourself, but rather to spend thousands of dollars to collect new RTR models, without ever having the intention of adding your own artistic touch, then I can see your point.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL John-NYBW MisterBeasley Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader. And a Model Railroader can fix it. What are you going to do in two years when something breaks? I bought a GG-1, and it didn't make it around the layout on Day 1. I realized the couplers were garbage, so I swapped them for Kadees. Probably voided the warranty. But I got good couplers. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise. If it's defective it should go back to the store where you bought it for replacement or refund. They can return it to where they got it from and get credit for it. Let the manufacture with the poor quality control eat the cost of fixing it. Well, if he did take it apart and paint it, I think it is his..... Now a good dealer or manufacturer might help him out, but at that point is is not just a defective toaster. If I buy a brand new car, and start messing around with adding or changing things, the more I do the more I limit the responsibility of the manufacturer. But this is becoming a hobby of "model collectors" not model builders........ This is why modeles should get some test run time before they get painted, kit bashed or whatever. If it is still out of the box "pristine" take it back and stops working in one day, take it back. Sheldon
I agree if the loco was painted it shouldn't be eligible for refund. The OP hadn't mentioned that part. Just the fact the shell was removed raises the possibility that it was damaged during the painting process.
Model railroading is about making choices. Some choose to do things the old fashioned way and scratch build or kit build the items for their layout. Others choose to spend a little more money and take advantage of RTR and Ready-Built items, options that weren't available in early days of the hobby. Those making that choice has a reasonable expectation that what they buy should be in working order right out of the box. Those making that choice can still upgrade those items by changing couplers or wheels, adding details, or weathering. Once that is done, it is no longer a new item and anything that goes wrong is now the responsibility of the modeler. It's reasonable to expect such a model to be in good working order before such enhancements are made and it would be wise to test it out before hand.
Here's the OP's first thread he started on this:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/287028.aspx
Then with in about a half hour, he started this thread.
He said in the first thread that he has painted the nose already, so he doesn't think he can send it back.
No where, has he said he took the shell off.
You can see the video he made painting a locomotive, in his post about movie trains, and he did all the painting with the shell on, the complete locomotive.
The OP also mentions in the first thread that his previous locomotive repair attempts ended in disasters.
He doesn't have much choice, but to attempt to fix it himself, or find somebody that will fix it, or at least work with him, and help him fix it.
He says it came in the mail. So, is it Ebay NOS? Ordered from Kato? or through one the many on line stores? We don't know that.
We do know that now it's his, non-returnable because of a rush to paint.
If he bought it from Kato, there is a chance they will fix it, and send it back, but I think a refund or replacement is out of the question.
He has to decide which way he wants to go.
I thought KATO made an SD40. Not an SD40-2.
- Douglas
I've got a Kato SD40-2, factory painted for the UP. Eventially it's going to get bashed alittle and end up with a 4 window wide cab.
Okay. The Kato SD40-2 Mid Production is the one with the bad electrical pickup.
Since it was a design flaw, I'm sure the producer issued a recall.....
I doubt that they would have expected the consumer to rewire and make-whole a new locomotive (yeah they would).
So if OP has one of those, there is no "repair" back to factory specs....the factory spec is the problem.
Maybe send it to Cuba. Those folks are pretty good at rigging up non engineered fixes.
DoughlessOkay. The Kato SD40-2 Mid Production is the one with the bad electrical pickup.
If thats what OP has, it's very fixable, but I'm not sure he's up to the task.
I haven't looked at mine yet. I ran it about 10 minutes, forward and reverse, and put it back in the box.
Doughless I thought KATO made an SD40. Not an SD40-2. They made both, the dash 2 having a longer frame. Jim