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Post by elfstyle on Aug 11, 2021 1:42:42 GMT -5
I have 20 AZL locomotives, my question is some of them don’t run and they will short out my layout as soon as I put them on the track. Are these engines burnt out? What’s causing this to happen? 8 of my engines are doing this. Can I get them repaired. I never had this problem with any of my N scale Locomotives and I have 25 of them. Please help, I’d love to have all my engines running. I want to build a bigger layout but not if these engines keep quitting on me. Thank you
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Post by ztrack on Aug 11, 2021 7:50:09 GMT -5
Oh no! There are a lot of factors we need to explore when troubleshooting why locos are not running. I don't want to speculate, so lets walk through the questions.
1: What is the track system you are using and most importantly, what controller(s) are you using?
2: What is the minimum radius you are operating?
3: Have you cleaned your track lately? If so what is the method?
4: What are the locomotive types (SD70, GP38, etc)?
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Post by BAZman on Aug 11, 2021 12:14:36 GMT -5
Did any ever run? Are these new, purchased from a dealer (web shop, not eBay ‘dealer’)? Did you purchase them over time or in a ‘lot’ (e.g. Estate Sale). Do you have any other brand (märklin, Micro-Trains, Rokuhan)
Define: shorts. Example: one runs and any second Loco stops both. This would point us to a Power issue.
Are you using a tiny hand-held power source or on-the-bench/layout with a knob control?
Are you trying to run DCC (NCE, MRC, Digitrax, Roko, etc) ?
Do you have a simple oval track (no turnout/switches)? If with switches, did you put it all together at once? (May be a power routing issue). Do you have a single piece of track that you can use to test on? While protecting the Loco from racing off, tap a 9v battery on the track (or to opposite wheels of the upside down Loco). Just tap the battery to it, DONT hold it on it, if it does not run. If you do not see any reaction, then there are some results:
1) Light board loose/no contact to power motor (VERY unlikely for even just 1, certainly not “all”) 2) trucks (that hold the wheels) severely over greased (a few models came this way, NOT all)
Just some thoughts but let’s wait until we get your model list so we can work with the best potential one.
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Post by ugeesta on Aug 11, 2021 20:22:00 GMT -5
Thank you for asking this question as I’ve been kicking it around as well. Not that my stock locomotives have stopped running, but I have a couple SD70ACe and AC44s that are getting very noisy and stutter, or slow down on the track.
I use Marklin track with 195mm radius. Powered about every 3 feet. If I run F3s or 7s on the same line, they run fine. I am quite surprised how loud they are getting.
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Post by neverland on Aug 12, 2021 10:14:04 GMT -5
How often do you clean your tracks and wheels?
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Post by BAZman on Aug 12, 2021 12:29:22 GMT -5
Have you . . . A) put a TINY single drop of oil (e.g. Labell 108 for plastics) B) taken the trucks apart, to clean them
Running on smaller radii creates more angular misalignment of the fixed worm gear the swiveling angle of the trucks transfer gear. If you run a lot (often) and/or grades and/or long trains will add to the wear.
Additionally, you have some 5-10 year old locos. The early Ajin manufactured ones are potentially more prone to this.
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Post by ugeesta on Aug 12, 2021 21:50:55 GMT -5
^^^^^^. Haven’t cleaned the wheels yet. I’m a bit nervous to take the trucks apart with my big monkey fingers. That said, I’ll give it a try.
But that doesn’t explain the very loud motors. Any idea there?
I’m not religious on cleaning the track tho spot clean when a see a dulll spot.
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Post by BAZman on Aug 13, 2021 0:40:38 GMT -5
NOTE ON CLEANING AZL WHEELS ( in my opinion) 1) AZL uses a very small traction tire band on 2 wheels. Many of you have used the Minitrix brass wire wheel cleaners. I * REALY* DON’T recommend using it, as could easily stretch and tear it off. Just saying. Many use a strip paper towel or cotton or, better: microfiber (far less fiber debris) laid across the track with a splash of isopropyl alcohol. Works reasonably well. The best and safest cleaner I’ve found and used is the Tsugawa Yokou 12580 (or other variation). It uses super-fine mesh providing electrical contact while the super-fine mesh help add some cleaning texture but safe for the traction tires. Several drops of alcohol helps. Here’s a link: www.ebay.com/itm/161899424965?hash=item25b1f52cc5:g:P9kAAOSwt6ZWV~SDYou can also get a loco cradle to lay the loco upside down in it. Touch a 9 volt batter to the wheels (easier if the battery is attached to flexible wire then to a short piece of track (wrap some tape around it to use a piece of shrink tubing) which you can more easily touch to the wheels. Mark the + wire on the track with Red for Right-hand for Forward. As for the Motor noise, the motor itself cannot make crack/random noise. That would be gears. If it is making a constant whine, that could be the motor but still more likely the gearing. If the motor, that would be the type of you power are applying. A pure DC like a 9 volt battery. But pulse power packs aren’t good for core less motors. I am sure you are not using DCC as loco won’t move at all and buzz noticeably (some DCC systems allow you run in simulated DC that does move a loco but noisy and still not good for the motor. To hep locate the noise, you will need to take the shell off. With the loco on a short track with a foam or pin stop so the local stays in place. This may help you aurally locate by moving your head for the stereo effect. You can also use you mobile phone. Put earbuds or headphones and hold the bottom middle of the phone very close as you scan along the loco frame. Try it with the end of the phone vertical and horizontal as most phones have stereo microphones. If there are just to many or not comfortable, PM me. You can send me one or so and I can take a look at right away. I’m retired so fast analysis and turnaround. Just you. Everyone else, there are others that do this too. But not my cup of tee. But I should be to quickly figure it out.
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Post by husafreak on Aug 13, 2021 22:22:00 GMT -5
I saw you using that Tsugawa cleaner track at the show I attended when new to Z scale and they are inexpensive and work really well. The wire brush type cleaner I would avoid. I would give mine away! First is the cleaner you mentioned and second would be the loco upside down in cradle and cleaning each wheel with a small swab. Sometimes I read these type of threads and feel I am very lucky to live in California. It is very dry and my locos store without deterioating.
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Post by neverland on Aug 15, 2021 15:14:37 GMT -5
I keep my 2’ x 4’ layout covered with a space blanket when I’m not running. It goes a long way towards keeping dust off your layout & your tracks.
I clean my tracks before each run using isopropyl alcohol & cotton swabs. It’s amazing how much dirt you will pick up even after a few days not running. I just use alcohol to clean my loco & car wheels, again using a cotton swab or packaged wipe. But it’s the racks that must be kept clean.
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