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 Posted - January 08 2017 : 02:46:34 AM
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So I've removed the DCC board from my eBay deal Atlas RS-1, and resoldered the wires from both trucks directly to the contacts. When testing with a bench PSU, at around ~5v, it's running and turning smoothly when applying power to the wheels. When put on track however, it doesn't want to move in the slightest. Despite running happily at 5v from the bench PSU, even when the power pack is turned to maximum it doesn't move an inch on track. Any ideas? Is the motor dying and just can't produce enough "push" to move the locomotive? Did I wire it incorrectly?
Here's a rough picture showing the innards, I'll try and add some better ones tomorrow (it's 2:38 AM right now, yikes!)
(Excuse my terribly, terribly messy desk.)
sim-al2
Also since they cut track maintaince the trains had huge trouble making over the railroad by the end
純那
yeah
They did a Rock Island volountarily
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Posted - January 08 2017 : 12:07:35 PM
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If you have an ohmmeter, see if you are getting continuity from the wheels to the motor. I've had atlas units where the axle pickups got dirty and prevented the motor from getting any power. You might need to clean the pickups. I use track cleaner or alcohol on a folded paper towel.
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Posted - January 08 2017 : 12:19:00 PM
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While it is running, you can touch a finger to a fly wheel and get an idea of motor torque. If that seems OK, then you can hold it while just barely touching wheels to track; light as a feather. If that runs OK then lightly let one end down onto the track; then the other. That should give you insight as to electrical or binding problem. Either way you will be disassembling trucks. Hopefully it will just be a case of adjusting electrical pickup.
Good health! OTTB
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Posted - January 08 2017 : 3:46:21 PM
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I assume the pickups are the brass parts behind the sideframes with a wire running from them? They look quite clean, but I'll give them a good wash anyways.
sim-al2
Also since they cut track maintaince the trains had huge trouble making over the railroad by the end
純那
yeah
They did a Rock Island volountarily
Edited by - Pokemonprime on January 08 2017 3:47:32 PM
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Posted - January 08 2017 : 5:45:48 PM
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Okay, so here's the current situation.
Put the locomotive onto the track, turned the power up, and with the use of a multimeter, set the probes on the contacts. And they're showing just as much voltage as the track, yet it won't budge. Connecting the probes to the power track's connections and then applying them to the wheels caused the motor and wheels to happily hum along, most of the time. Sometimes it didn't do anything, and in all cases shifting or tilting the locomotive stopped it moving. I also cleaned the pickups with goo-gone (closed thing to hand, and it's worked before), as some areas were quite dirty. Any ideas? I'm stumped.
sim-al2
Also since they cut track maintaince the trains had huge trouble making over the railroad by the end
純那
yeah
They did a Rock Island volountarily
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Posted - January 09 2017 : 01:54:44 AM
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Not sure, but that sounds to me like an intermittent short.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/weekendrailroader?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase
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Posted - January 09 2017 : 9:06:57 PM
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What happens if you set the loco on an unpowered track and then use jumper wires directly to the motor?
What does "unpowered" track voltage do when you do the above?
Good health! OTTB
Edited by - offtrackthoroughbred on January 09 2017 9:09:03 PM
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