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swchief3
Passenger
USA
142 Posts |
 Posted - 08/20/2012 : 00:27:33
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I did a quick search of this forum for the questions I'm about to ask, but didn't find anything. So, if these issues have been discussed before, please excuse the duplication.
Two issues I'm having. "Issue One", as John McLaughlin would say, is I am having problems with an Atlas HO Dash 8-32BWH. It's the phase V Amtrak unit, AMTK 517 and, for the life of me, I can't figure out why the thing binds up and, ultimately, shorts. I've checked the trucks, and there's no binding there. I've checked the flywheels and motor shafts for binding, but found none. I've shimmed the motor up a bit, to adjust the angle of attack for the front driveline. (It's the front that binds up.) I've checked the gauge on all the wheels, and the gauge checks out. I've played around with the worm gear female receivers, thus shortening and/or lengthening the drive, to no avail. I had the unit in at Atlas awhile back, and asked about binding in the drive, but they must not have found anything. I can't figure this out, and it's about to drive me up the wall. I have not yet tried changing the PC board, but it doesn't seem like that would be the problem. What do I do with this thing? I have the other two units from that release, and they had some binding issues, as well. I was able to resolve it by tinkering with those worm assemblies and female receivers, and they seem to be doing OK.
My other problem unit is a Kato HO Amtrak F40PH (AMTK 400) that likes to stall. It'll be running fine, and then... out of the blue... it just quits. Stalls completely. There's nothing wrong with the motor that I can see. I've adjusted the copper clips that connect the contact bars to the PC board, so there's no slippage. Yet, the unit still stalls. I have the other two sister units, and they don't seem to have that problem.
Suggestions?
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sschaer
Moderator
913 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2012 : 18:27:16
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since i'm not into h0 scale i can only guess.
could it be the f40ph catches a rail joiner making it stall ? any other obstacle on the layout ?
i had a engine going into "emergency stop" at the same spot every time. it was the trip pin mounted too low. |
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swchief3
Passenger
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2012 : 03:25:04
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quote:
Originally posted by sschaer
since i'm not into h0 scale i can only guess.
could it be the f40ph catches a rail joiner making it stall ? any other obstacle on the layout ?
i had a engine going into "emergency stop" at the same spot every time. it was the trip pin mounted too low.
Thanks for your reply. I doubt it's a rail joiner, because the engine stalls at random, and in different places on the layout. Someone on another forum suggested it was the copper clip that connects the contact bar (buried in the chassis) to the PC board. Even though the bar looks like it's making proper contact, it may not be. The suggestion was to solder the contact points. (I can't solder!  ) I'm told Kato had this same problem with their first-generation SD40-2s. I will double-check my rail joiners, though.
Any thoughts on the drive problem with my Dash-8? |
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swchief3
Passenger
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2012 : 05:12:04
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UPDATE:
I have solved (for now) the shorting-out problems with my F40s, and managed to pull it off without soldering. I found that the metal clips were rubbing against the sides of the motor, and that seemed to be making the thing short. So, I tweaked the clips and fiddled around with the PC board, and found a balance point where the set-up wouldn't short. I ended up loosening (slightly) the mount screws on the PC board to work the short out, and it worked. The engines have been running strong ever since. Also, I had to retorque the flywheels on a couple of the motors, and that helped with speed, power, and smooth running. It took a lot of trial and error, but it was worth it. Those F40s haul now! |
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Two for the price of one... questions, that is...
