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Post by stevew on Feb 7, 2024 7:51:19 GMT -5
That's a great pic Steve! I agree!!! Check out the SP light package on the back of the one loco! Thank you both! Yep, the SP light package on the back is something you don't even see that often in larger scales! The close coupling looks great too. I could not he happier with these. Steve W |
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Post by csxjoe on Feb 7, 2024 20:23:31 GMT -5
Checking the copper strips is what the seller recommended and that's a problem I've had with some MTL SD40-2's but these AZL SD40-2's all appear to be making contact all the time with the brass contact in the truck on straights and curves. Since they all appear to be good I didn't attempt to modify them in anyway. The solder joint issue you've experienced is interesting. All joints appear to be good on the loco of the one shell I did remove so I'm still at a loss at to why I'm experiencing these issues. The only other thing I can think of is that these arrived at my mailbox when it was very cold outside, below freezing, and they likely were outside for about 5-6 hours until I got home and got the mail and brought them inside. I'm aware of the cold weather advisory and let these warm up inside for a day as recommended before running them.
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Post by ednadolski on Feb 7, 2024 21:35:03 GMT -5
Checking the copper strips ...
Sorry if this is pedantic, but aren't those phosphor bronze? Copper and/or brass would be subject to oxidation (and brass is not great as an electrical conductor... I am old enough to remember brass rail...).
Ed
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rgs455
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Post by rgs455 on Feb 8, 2024 3:02:23 GMT -5
Checking the copper strips ...
Sorry if this is pedantic, but aren't those phosphor bronze? Copper and/or brass would be subject to oxidation (and brass is not great as an electrical conductor... I am old enough to remember brass rail...).
Ed
There was a post in the forum that if your package has been sitting in a cold mail box or transit in the cold for days you open the box first and let id " breathe" and adjust to riom temperature for some hours before running it. Doesn't matter if its Marklin AZL or any other brand. This will alllow any condensation to evaporate and stiff grease to become viscose again. BR Boris |
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Post by stevew on Feb 8, 2024 12:30:28 GMT -5
Has anyone else experienced any performance issues with the new AZL SD40-2's in general or specifically the new AZL CSX SD40-2's? The reason I ask is because I have close to 50 Z scale locomotives, many of which are AZL, a variety of 4 and 6 axle locos, and I’m running into a lot of performance issues with the 4 new CSX SD40-2’s I just purchased (2 of each of the blue roof units and 2 of the white roof units). I’ve collected model trains for close to 40 years and have collected Z for nearly 25 years so I’m familiar with the “break in” period of new locomotives, the importance of clean track, etc. DC power source is used for these locos. My layout is an L scale layout about 6'x4' in size and all MTL track. Of the 4 CSX SD40's I just purchased, 2 stop sporadically at multiple locations on the layout and one of them stops and hums like it's trying to move but won't move at all unless I push it to get it started again. The lights on these two also flicker a good bit like they're not getting good electrical contact. I checked the brass wipers that touch the trucks as suggested by the seller to make sure they are all touching the contacts on the trucks and all seems to be good there. The other 2 locos run fairly decent but occasionally have the same issues as the 2 more troublesome locos but are really poor performers when pulling more than 6 cars which causes them to stall and stop. I thought maybe the track was possibly the issue, but before and after cleaning the track all other locos I have run fine, but these 4 new ones I just purchased still have the same issues as described above. I ran these just like any other new locos I get, which is at a slow speed for about 10-15 minutes and then gradually increase the speed, ran them separately, together, etc., but nothing has helped performance. I measured the distance between the wheels thinking maybe the gap was too wide and causing stalling issues, but they all seem to measure very close if not the same as all my other locomotives. I also have large radius track on my layout which easily accommodates 6 axle locomotives and again, no issues with any of my other locos. Stalling issues occur on both straight and curve sections and is sporadic. Would like to know if anyone else is running into similar issues and if so were you able to resolve the issues? Have you tried cleaning the wheels? Locos often times come from the factory with an oil residue on the wheels. I had an SW1500 that was running poorly, cleaned the wheels and it runs like a champ now. Steve W |
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Post by csxjoe on Feb 8, 2024 22:45:27 GMT -5
Yes, I did do all of that. I didn't run the locomotives for a day until after they arrived to ensure they were at ambient temperature due to prior posts about cold weather advisories. These are brand new locomotives so the wheels are clean, as it the track. I do have wheel cleaner and ran them on that for a brief time to ensure the wheels were in fact clean, but no change in performance.
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Post by mrbarlow on Feb 9, 2024 11:17:12 GMT -5
CSX joe,
I feel your frustration. My first 2 locos in Z SCALE were AZL GP38-2's and they were lemons.
That why 95% of my Z loco's are MTL. The rivet counters say they're out of scale, BUT THEY RUN And THEY'RE DEPENDABLE.
Until AZL makes every locomotive at KATO or ATLAS N scale "running quality" level, right out of the box, I won't buy.
Always check under the hood. One burned, twice shy.
All the detail in the world added to a shell DOES NOT MATTER if the mechanism is crap! As they say in politics "slap lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig".
Good Luck
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Post by Kez on Feb 9, 2024 11:36:13 GMT -5
My experience has been exactly opposite of yours. I have over a hundred Z locomotives, and they are over 95% American Z Line. The only MTL locos I have any interest in these days are the old coffee grinder F7s, and that's mostly nostalgia. The MTL SD-40s, GP35s, and GP9s that I owned for years never got used, because they were inconsistent runners, and they wouldn't pull NEARLY what AZL locos will. I've sold almost every MTL loco (non F7) that I owned for these reasons.
And even the F7s that I've kept have been modified with wheel wipers to make them run at all.
I just don't understand trashing an entire brand because you had ONE bad experience.
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Post by ptitrainrouge on Feb 9, 2024 13:37:07 GMT -5
Yes, I did do all of that. I didn't run the locomotives for a day until after they arrived to ensure they were at ambient temperature due to prior posts about cold weather advisories. These are brand new locomotives so the wheels are clean, as it the track. I do have wheel cleaner and ran them on that for a brief time to ensure the wheels were in fact clean, but no change in performance. sorry for you
after reading your probllem I have tested my 2 sd40-2, they run very well just out of the box, on different parts of the layout
may be you have a mechanical issue on the gear of the trucks ?
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Post by sjl on Feb 9, 2024 13:49:59 GMT -5
At some point it might be simpler to simply ask your dealer (or Rob K.) to swap the locos, since it seems like this is a one-off issue.
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Post by ztrack on Feb 9, 2024 14:36:39 GMT -5
Definitely drop me an email so we can troubleshoot more. I am really thinking this is more of a track issue. When I hear MTL track, I do shudder a little. Just recently, we worked with another customer who was having issues, and we discovered the MTL track was slightly out of gauge in spots. We have test run and QC'd all locos here before they go out to customer and dealers. I can tell you with high confidence the SD40 run has been fantastic. The only issues we see with derailing, or stuttering goes back to the shell aligned that was discussed before. My email is sales@ztrack.com
BTW.... am I the only one who finds it odd that someone would judge a whole company based on one locomotive released 12 years ago? And then be part of a forum for a company they detest so much? Curious, right?
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Post by mrbarlow on Feb 9, 2024 15:24:24 GMT -5
Rob,
AZL makes great products, but I'm "a bit leery" of the locomotives. Maybe in a few years I'll take the plunge.
I did not "trash" AZL. As a customer and consumer, I gave HONEST feedback of my experiences and that
should be part of the discussion. In life and model railroading, everything is not Lollipops and Rainbows.
I've had some dogs in HO and N Scale as well.
Carry on.
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Post by ztrack on Feb 9, 2024 15:32:21 GMT -5
Seriously, take the plunge again!!! You are missing out on some amazing offerings!
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Post by csxjoe on Feb 9, 2024 18:12:07 GMT -5
Thanks to all. The genuine intent for my questions was just for feedback as to what may be going on in the event anyone else was experiencing the same issues. I rarely have issues with AZL products so this issue does have me stumped. I'll reach out to Rob directly.
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rgs455
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Post by rgs455 on Feb 10, 2024 14:25:13 GMT -5
My experience has been exactly opposite of yours. I have over a hundred Z locomotives, and they are over 95% American Z Line. The only MTL locos I have any interest in these days are the old coffee grinder F7s, and that's mostly nostalgia. The MTL SD-40s, GP35s, and GP9s that I owned for years never got used, because they were inconsistent runners, and they wouldn't pull NEARLY what AZL locos will. I've sold almost every MTL loco (non F7) that I owned for these reasons. And even the F7s that I've kept have been modified with wheel wipers to make them run at all. I just don't understand trashing an entire brand because you had ONE bad experience. I just received my SP Tunnel Motor.. she runs very smooth at any speed.. no pickup or binding issues.. Noise level is low.. and speed wise blends in fine with older AZL locos, (I tried with a GP30)... BR Boris |
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