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Engine Does Not Run Anymore
Tom is new to O scale as asks readers:
“I have three engines which all stopped running after 10 to 15 minutes on the track. The lights come on. They just do not move. Three other engines have been working fine for days. Any ideas or suggestions?”
4 Responses to Engine Does Not Run Anymore
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You don’t mention if it is DCC or DC. But if lights come on then there must be some power coming through the system,check
1.the track, wheels and pickups are clean (usually the number 1 problem).
2. the motor is clean, brush powder (carbon) sometimes clogs the comutator segments.
3. Contacts with the brushes to the motor are clean and if possible run a voltmeter over your system.
I had the same problem with one of my engines. All I had to do was clean the wheels on the engine really good and now it goes like a champ. Sometimes the wheels get oil and grime on them and then can’t pick up the electricity.
Like the other man said too, clean the track maybe with super fine sand paper.
Dirty or corroded points of contact may allow just enough current to flow for lights but not motors.
Please may I ask some diagnostic questions:
Do you have a DC or DCC system ?
Are these problem locos new, used, or quite old ?
Have they been previously used a little or a lot ?
What make are the engines ?
Have you done the basic things of cleaning: 1) track, 2) wheels; 3) pickup contacts ?
As Robert says, if all else fails with an old loco, it may be necessary to strip down the motor and clean the commutator and brushes (a fiddly job, but worthwhile if you have the tools and skills).
Dirty or corroded points of contact may allow just enough current to flow for lights but not motors.
Clean the track with fine grade wet & dry then wipe clean. Check wheels for deposits and clean. I have used an electrical unit called Relco. This is wired into the circuit supplying the track. The unit provides a high voltage / high frequency signal across the rails. This voltage does not affect the running of the loco, but when a loco wheel runs over a dirty patch, an arc (a bit like a welder) forms between the wheel and the rail. This burns away the dirt and leaves the rail clean. You only need to leave the Relco on for as long as the dirty patches are there. Once the rails are clean you can turn the Relco off until its needed again.
Hope this helps.
Alan