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How to Fix Sparking Under a Locomotive
Eddie asks readers:
“I was giving all my Marklin HO locos a run and one of the older ones started to spark from the slider. It ran a little bit, but not very good and then just stopped. Is it just a matter of changing the slider or something more serious? Thanks.”
5 Responses to How to Fix Sparking Under a Locomotive
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Eddie, Not knowing your problem well, i would start by ensuring your engine has good clean wheels and that the contacts to the wheels are clean and good contact also Dirty wheels are always sparky and at the same time ensure your tracks are clean Dirt is your worst enemy. I think checking this is something that has nothing to do with what brand of engine you are running. I simetimes I put on a 4 wheel steam engine on The track for a while to help clean the tracks and they spark on the track till the clean up and the wheels also at first the same way. If this continues then you need to look at the wire contacts to the wheels from the motor. This would not matter whether you were running Standard DCC or DCC. SO I would start there first. from Newman
Hi Newman, I have fixed the problem. I had a new slider in stock and that fixed the problem, Many thanks for your imput. Take card Eddie
The old slider was probably coated in oxide. Give it a clean with fine emery cloth and try it again.
I have a very old train setup. It is an old Marx brand. I have a board with 1950 era three rail track. It hasn’t been used in years but I’d like to get it going. It sparks alot under the engine. Transformer is a Lionel. Wiring under board is late 40s mostly flat wire. Two questions: what can I use to clean wheels and track. #2. What kind of wire should wire I use to rewire. Thanks
If the old track is steel it is probably rusty so clean with very fine emery paper. To clean loco wheels I have used the bare ends of multistrand wire as it acts like a kitchen scouring pad. Support the loco upside down then hold the wires on the wheels so the wheels spin and get a clean at the same time.
Robert