Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
4 Responses to Problem With Spinning Tender
Leave a Reply
Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Do you mean the wheels are spinning ? Some model steam locos have the motor in the tender.
If drive wheels are spinning, it may be:
1) There is too much weight of train cars behind the loco.
(Remedy: reduce load.)(or double-head a long train with two locos)
2) There is too little weight in the tender (to give traction).
(Remedy: add weight over drive axles, e.g. steel or copper or lead sheet)
3) There may be misalignment in couplers (etc) causing the tender to lift off the rails.
(Remedy: adjust couplers.)
4) Wheels can slip along axles. Inspect with a magnifying glass, the wheels on the end of a piece of track to see how they look. There are gauges for checking rails and wheels.
5) It takes more force to pull a train uphill or around a curve. All of the above will be useful.
Please let us know if any of these solutions help at all !
Another fault that can occur is the gear slipping on its shaft or a drive wheel slipping on its axle. Remedy, clean and add a drop of super glue.
Another one I have just thought of is if traction tyres are worn/perished they will slip on the drive wheel. Try new traction tyres.
I have an image of the tender spinning like a top – obviously not what you meant. Frank has given you enough to think about but if your loco is tender driven then the wheels are the problem – out of gauge, slipping traction tyres or the axle/wheel joint has let go.