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 Posted - June 21 2014 : 7:45:40 PM
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My Arnold N scale S-2 switcher in Milwaukee Road livery runs choppily on the N scale track I use. It runs smooth then just jolts to a stop and keeps on going. I think it might be the ginormous flanges but my code track is code 80 Kato Unitrack and the highest code of track where the flanges will hit the rails is code 70. I have no clue what the problem is. Can you help? Here's some photos of my model.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 21 2014 7:47:32 PM
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Posted - June 21 2014 : 8:02:22 PM
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Nice looking switcher, Stephen!
Not sure about your sudden stopping issue - but check the height of the coupler pins, sometimes they are too low and will catch on a switch, grade crossing or other trackwork enough to temporarily stop your loco.
I would think if the issue was the flanges it would run choppily all the time, but you say it runs smooth and then will stop with a jolt....and I have seen this happen many times when the low coupler pins were catching on things.
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - June 21 2014 : 8:04:08 PM
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quote:Nice looking switcher, Stephen!
Not sure about your sudden stopping issue - but check the height of the coupler pins, sometimes they are too low and will catch on a switch, grade crossing or other trackwork enough to temporarily stop your loco.
I would think if the issue was the flanges it would run choppily all the time, but you say it runs smooth and then will stop with a jolt....and I have seen this happen many times when the low coupler pins were catching on things.
Originally posted by JNXT 7707Â -Â June 21 2014Â :Â 8:02:22 PM
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Well, when I first put it on the tracks, it runs choppily all the time. After a couple of minutes, it starts running smoother, only stopping from time to time. Of course, I will try this. I may just end up bringing it to Eastside Trains in Kirkland. They've almost never let me down when it comes to model trains. The only time they ever did was with the Flying Scotsman when they didn't have the right part but that's okay. They're only available in the UK so that made sense. This one however is American so I am almost guaranteed to find the part or whatever I might need to do to it there. I just wanted to see if you guys had any good suggestions before I went which I will sometime this week.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 21 2014 10:30:44 PM
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Posted - June 21 2014 : 11:50:17 PM
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If by choppy you mean that it sputters down the track, that black crust on the wheels might be causing the problem.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - June 22 2014 : 12:32:57 AM
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quote:If by choppy you mean that it sputters down the track, that black crust on the wheels might be causing the problem.
Originally posted by scsshaggy - June 21 2014 : 11:50:17 PM
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I cleaned a bit of the crust off on one of the wheels and a ton of filth came onto the cloth that I used. I made sure I cleaned the entire wheel and I will make sure I test it at some point to see if it did anything. Thank you for your help, man! You're awesome!
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 22 2014 12:33:54 AM
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Posted - June 22 2014 : 12:44:20 AM
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Update: I also found a huge carpet fluff in one of the front wheels. It was so big that it must've been blocking the wheels from turning, causing the locomotive to run choppily. I got it out and any other carpet fluff out as well.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 22 2014 1:12:13 PM
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Posted - June 22 2014 : 12:30:19 PM
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quote:Update: I also found a huge carpet fluff in one of the front wheels. It was so big that it must've been blocking the wheels from turning, causing the locomotive to run choppily. I got it out and any other carpet fluff out as well.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â June 22 2014Â :Â 12:44:20 AM
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well that was a Wasn't it?
Most of the time after I buy a loco I check the wheels for stuff like that 
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Posted - June 22 2014 : 12:35:10 PM
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quote:Update: I also found a huge carpet fluff in one of the front wheels. It was so big that it must've been blocking the wheels from turning, causing the locomotive to run choppily.I got it out and any other carpet fluff out as well.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â June 22 2014Â :Â 12:44:20 AM
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Ah yes, the biggest problem with carpet layouts (especially in small scales). Carpet fluff, sand, metal shavings and any number of other small debris are all locomotive-killers.
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Posted - June 22 2014 : 1:13:11 PM
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quote:  I got that thing in a whole lot of model train stuff from a friend for free so what the heck do you expect?
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - June 22 2014 : 7:07:27 PM
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quote: I got that thing in a whole lot of model train stuff from a friend for free so what the heck do you expect?
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â June 22 2014Â :Â 1:13:11 PM
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*sarcasm* Well I expect the trains to WORK right! Darn it!
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 9:35:26 PM
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Definitely keep N scale wheels clean and away from the dust bunnies.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - August 24 2014 : 1:21:10 PM
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Thank you guys for your help. It runs a heck of a lot better now after taking that carpet fluff out.Now it just needs some breaking in and it's good to go.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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