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Post by troubleshooting on Jan 26, 2022 14:59:27 GMT -5
Hello all. I am new to z scale and am having issues with an AZL F7 A unit that is around 2 months old. It doesn’t start right away when I power it up. To get it to run I have to push down in the top of the loco and sort of run with it as the engine warms up. Eventually it will run well with my finger off of it but I needs this warm up period and runs inconsistently. I have the same problem on my flex track as well as a clean loop of Rokuhan. I’m worried maybe ballast dust from my layout is the issue? I’ve tried cleaning the track and the wheels by running the loco over an isopropyl soaked paper towel laid of the track. Any ideas what could be causing this problem?
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Post by Kez on Jan 26, 2022 16:45:26 GMT -5
It could be that the motor control PCB (digital board) is slightly askew. If you are comfortable removing the shell (it's not difficult), then you should be able to slide the board out and reseat it in the chassis. Hopefully someone can chime in with pictures to help. I don't currently have that capability.
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Post by neverland on Jan 26, 2022 18:23:18 GMT -5
Was the unit new? Could be it needs a dab of lube. Did you clean your tracks. Some locos run better than others with varying degrees of dirty tracks.
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Post by husafreak on Jan 26, 2022 18:47:47 GMT -5
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Post by troubleshooting on Jan 26, 2022 19:50:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the input guys. I removed the shell and pushed the board forward like it shows in the video and it’s running well now. Appreciate the help.
Follow up question. Do both sets of trucks get power and spin? I notice when I put only the back trucks on the track the front wheels spin but if I put only the front trucks on the track the back ones don’t spin. Is that normal or does that mean my front trucks aren’t picking up power well from the track?
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Post by troubleshooting on Jan 26, 2022 19:54:10 GMT -5
Never mind - false alarm! Both sets of trucks are picking up power and spinning the wheels. Cheers.
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Post by husafreak on Jan 27, 2022 11:16:07 GMT -5
A handy device for checking and cleaning your locos is dead simple, a 9V battery. Grab a piece of foam and cut a slot in it with a kitchen knife. Now you have a cradle to hold your loco inverted. Take a 9v battery with wires attatched and touch the wires to any two current conducting wheels, one on each side of the chassis! I got one of those 9v battery snap on connectors with a switch even. See the wheels spin! I will do this with one hand and an alcohol dipped mini pointed ear cleaner applied to the wheels for a thorough cleaning too.
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Post by troubleshooting on Jan 30, 2022 21:29:17 GMT -5
Just to put a bow on this incase anyone has the same problem. The ultimate fix was that the copper tabs that come down from the PCB weren’t contacting the motor. Had to just remove the PCB and bend the tabs down to 90 degrees and no issues since then. I believe this is a relatively common problem. Thanks again for the good info and that 9V battery tip is great
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