In addition to Richard's tips, make sure the wire lugs screwed to the drawbar posts on the loco and tender aren't turned so they are touching. That will create a dead short between the loco & tender frames. If you're going to DCC it I would at least sleeve both lugs with shrink tubing, since this arrangement is just asking for trouble.
Nelson
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--- In yardbirdtrains@..., "Richard" <rh@...> wrote:
Dirty tender wheels and contact surfaces between the trucks and the tender body is where the electrical path is the weakest. Cleaning these areas will usually clear up the erratic running problem but only temporarily. Over time the poor running will return. For much improved reliable running, especially of you wish to convert to DCC you will need to make some improvements to the electrical pick-up system.
Starting with the tender, remove both trucks and drill out the rivet on only one side so that the wheels can be replaced with better metal wheels that are insulated on one side. I have used Bachmann wheels for this purpose that work very well. Then replace the rivet with a screw or nut and bolt. The hole can also be threaded so that a nut is not needed.
Next, solder a flexible wire to the rivet on the other side of the truck and connect it to the tender chassis with a screw after drilling and taping a hole for it. These steps will insure good electrical pick-up. Since the tender is only providing power from the left hand rail, it may be necessary to add wipers to the right hand wheels for all wheels pick-up which is what DCC usually requires. It will then be necessary to run a separate wire to the engine that carries the power from the right rail.
That brings up the engine which again is only picking up power from the right hand side. By adding wipers to the left hand driving wheels you will have power pick-up coming from
almost all wheels, thereby insuring the best possible power delivery to the motor for DC operation or to the decoder for DCC operation.
Richard in Vermont
--- In yardbirdtrains@..., "cwvpost1" <pgkdave@> wrote:
I just acquired a Limited Edition Mantua Classic 4-4-2 Atlantic that was still New In the Box. It is over 20 Years Old. When I tried to Run it on a test track, it ran erratic starting and stopping and shorting out.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what would be causing the problem and any suggestion on how to fix it?
Also is there anyway to upgrade this engine to DCC?
