I SCREWED UP! Now what?!?! How to fix small engine pickup issues with layout track “dead-spots”
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- I messed up when buying track, and now the newest small steam engine won’t run on the layout. Check out what I do to fix the issue with a relatively simple and FREE fix!
#lionel #atlantic #locomotive #steam #messedup #track
I think you could have did a modification to the switches, however your fix to the loco with the tender center rail rollers works. I would have opened the engine up and found the wire to the center rail and soldered another wire to it and run it back to the tender, using a little connector, like the early Lionel Sound of Steam.
Speaking of that, those had contact problems to, and worse case was still best to wire it to the engine power pick up, for both the outside and the center rail ( electronic whistle ). Even Lionel post war had a power pick up problem but it was with the outside rail connection, often on the scout engines, so they added a brass spring on the tender to engine hook and then the tender also shared the outside rail contact too.
Oh I have to share this trick: If you are using track that does not have the outside rails wired together and no metal cross ties. Power you train off the inside loop of your outside rails, lock your train in forward, and turn of the reversing unit. Now if you go to fast around a corner you train will loose power as it tips and be less likely to fall off the track if you over power it, within reason. However the more rail cars you have on it will defeat this idea since the car's metal wheels will make both outside rails powered.
A clever fix, and as a realistic test, yeah it works! It is nice of Lionel to include tethers for this reason on their Legacy 0-6-0’s, and the 0-4-0’s soon to come, but you can’t win them all….
In 2019 I was at an open house at Eric Seigel's layout. He had a new SP Atlantic that did the same thing. He said he usually runs a small tether to cure that same issue. So it is nothing new for the Atlantic's to have that issue. You can watch that video on his channel. 2019 Open house part 1.
That might explain why he never did the review on it.
Great fix! Track looks awesome especially with 7.5 switches. I was having issues with a few different Lionel locomotives. The Nickel Plate Road 2-8-8-2 would speed up over them when running average speed and stop at lower speeds. All my MTH and Atlas locomotive have worked well. Thank you for the idea on an easy fix, easier to do your fix to the few Lionel locomotives. 👍. Good video!
That was educational video I appreciated very much. Thank you in helping in solving a possible problem. Nice seeing a layout with many switches that makes running the trains more interesting.
Thanks for the positive feedback!
Very interesting beautiful loco nice job sorting it out 👌
paint the blue wire black where it passes between the loco and the tender and it will look like a hose.
Now this is old news using a scale turn out such as a 7.5 increases the length of the gap between the third rail so obviously when you run a short length engine through the turnout your roller pickup does not extend over the gap to make contact to the third rail on the opposite side so you lose the electrical continuity and your engine dies.For years now I have been seeing this issue and one would think that these model train makers would compensate and adjust their engineering when they design these models.Instead you spend big bucks on this stuff take it out of the box set it up and run it and you discover their is a problem.Now for those preferably new to the hobby and ignorant to issues like this as well as many others,will be pulling the hair out of their heads trying to figure out whats wrong with my engine. So my Hubble opinion you shouldn’t have to start making alterations brand new out of the box to a 7 or $800 DOLLAR ITEM for CHRIST SAKE I wish these model train builders would pay more attention to their product and be a little more accommodating for us train collectors and operators.
That looks pretty clean to me. I think tubular switches (what we have) don't have this problem, they do seem a little random sometimes.
I wanted to chim in on how we fixed this problem on out layout what we did is put a price of rail down in that spot. You can get a hold of me through our Facebook group O gauge model railroading tips tricks and more.
Then I can send you pictures for a very easy fix
Sounds great! I’ll check you out and send a message
I wonder why they didn't do this at the factory.
Great video! I really liked your fix to the problem. Just interested to know, did you watch Eric,s video small engines with the same problems? Or do great minds just come up with the same solution?
Must be “great minds” 😂 I haven’t seen his particular video discussing this, but heard he did have a similar problem from another RUclips member. I’ll have to dig back through his videos and take a look.
Yeah man I ran into same issue. if engine doesn’t have double pick ups it gets stuck.
Glad to know I’m not the only one then!
@@gizmotrains didn’t notice they did a change in switches I bought couple off of market place and they have the long plastic. I’m real liking that smaller steam engine I might pick one up my self. Going on 4 weeks recovering from Covid still have no energy at all.
@elkrivertrains sorry to hear! Hope you feel 100% soon and for sure it’s a great little engine! Using it for Christmas this year around the tree too
Double pickups often does not fix the badly designed atlas switches with their loss of power and negative rail continuity problems.atlas switch problems have created many, many really disappointing runs.
@@thetrainboard2772 that’s why many switch to gar graves switches but I have no experience in those. I believe newer atlas switches have corrected problem is that true?
🤘 *PromoSM*!
Atlas switches suck!!!!! They always have!!!!!! Your issues are very common with atlas switches. Ross custom switches are far better……