Hi! I dug out my train set from the early 1980's, everything's great except the engine. When the power is on, it wants to run like normal when either the back set or the front set of wheels are in contact with the track, but not when both are connected. It worked fine all those years ago, and was so much fun to play with. If anyone has experienced this symptom and knows how to fix it I'd be very grateful. Thanks!
What make and model is this locomotive?
Ihaets,
I would guess that your front truck is turned around 180 degrees.
Joe
Edit: Added "180 degrees".
Thanks for your replies. As far as make and model, jbrock I think it's a DD40X 16 wheel diesel. Joe, it doesn't look like it's possible to reverse the trucks (either of them). A similar thought occured to me as well.
In which direction does it want to run when the front wheels are lifted, back wheels in contact?
Which direction for the front in contact, and the back lifted?
Has someone worked on the loco since the '80s?
Thanks.
Joe
It sounds like you have a short circuit which could have a variety of sources.
When front is lifted front wheels want to go backward. When back lifted wants to go forward. Odd... No, it has never been worked on, to my knowledge.
Quote from: Ihaveanelectrictrainset on May 08, 2015, 10:33:30 PM
Thanks for your replies. As far as make and model, jbrock I think it's a DD40X 16 wheel diesel. Joe, it doesn't look like it's possible to reverse the trucks (either of them). A similar thought occured to me as well.
Below is the diagram for the 1990 model which should be what you have. Just a guess. I would agree, does not look like either truck would swivel.
There are instructions for pulling the shell.
http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmanndd40xdiagram1990.jpg
Rich
Pull the shell and check the wiring.
Each motor should have a "dotted" terminal, and a "non-dotted" terminal.
The left wheel power should connect to a dotted terminal on one truck, and the non-dotted terminal on the other truck.
The right wheel power should connect to the non-dotted terminal on (the same) one truck, and the dotted terminal on the other truck.
Joe
Edit: Spelling
one of the trucks should have non powered wheels. take the cover off this truck and turn all the wheelsets around. this should eliminate the short circuit,
Ihaets,
Your make/model must be different than the diagram linked by Rich.
You stated: "When front is lifted front wheels want to go backward",
which leads me to believe that both trucks have motors,
yet the Bachmann DD40X diagram shows that the front trucks are non-powered.
Is this a Bachmann train set, or some other manufacturer?
What is the (road) number on the side of the loco shell?
Do you still have the set box? If so, what is the manufacturer, set name and set number?
If not, check for a manufacturer's name on the bottom of the loco and all other pieces of the set.
Thanks.
Joe Satnik
Ihaets,
Wow, this HO seeker website is quite useful.
http://hoseeker.net/bachmanninformation/bachmanncatalog1987pg06.jpg
Is this your loco?
I didn't notice a set that included the DD40X in the few years of catalogs that HO seeker has posted, only separate sale.
Is your DD40X from your set?
Regardless, it would help if you had some kind of padded cradle to hold your loco upside down for troubleshooting.
You could build a "U" shaped channel out of scrap wood and throw a towel over it for padding.
Another possibility, a long shoe box.
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Quote from: Joe Satnik on May 09, 2015, 09:08:48 AM
Your make/model must be different than the diagram linked by Rich.
Is this a Bachmann train set, or some other manufacturer?
Thanks.
Joe Satnik
This is why I thought it important to ask my question yesterday, from the get go before going further:
Quote from: jbrock27 on May 08, 2015, 06:54:04 PM
What make and model is this locomotive?
So far the response given has only included the model.
From 1980 catalog:
http://hoseeker.net/bachmanninformation/bachmanncatalog1980pg22.jpg
Different than 1987 version.
Not sure why this copy-pasted link doesn't work.
You can find it manually by going to the HO seeker site and working your way down to it.
Joe
Re: padded cradle
I made one from some black foam packing material that some computer items were delivered in. Used a utility knife and a hot glue gun to make up a 2 piece cradle for locos and rolling stock. Works well :)
Hi all, I really appreciate your helpful information. Road number is 866, color is yellowish and with Union Pacific on the side. It's definitely a bachmann. Correction: it has 8 wheels, not 16. I think it's a bit different than the one in the diagram Rich posted, but that was insightful to see. I'll try to upload a photo of shell, interior, and even the box if I can, as that should help clear up identification. There's not much on the box to go by.. Wires look in tact and nothing seems to have been tampered with. I tried to switch the wheels in the back truck to no effect. I can tell you though, it really wants to run!
So it sounds like a GP-40 or something along those lines.
I'm having trouble posting a picture on this forum. I'll keep trying.
Quote from: Ihaveanelectrictrainset on May 09, 2015, 03:09:30 PM
I'm having trouble posting a picture on this forum. I'll keep trying.
You have to upload it to an image hosting site and then link it here. You can use photobucket or Flickr or your site of choice.
Thanks for the tip. I don't have flickr or so, so I've posted a photo on
http://www.reverbnation.com/amicron
Once you get there look in photos, there are only a few and one of them is my locomotive.
It's the website of a solo musical project of mine, though I'm not trying to advertise it on here! Just using it as a medium to share the photo :) I'll probably take the photo down eventually. Thanks!
Oh boy, quite a lot fo difference between 8 and 16 wheels.
Below is a link to the Bachmann HO locos. Take a look through. We really need to see what the drive is like.
http://www.hoseeker.net/bachmann.html
Pulling the shell will help a lot faster to find a solution. Beats guess work.
Rich
Hi Rich,
Sorry about that mix-up, the box had an illustration with the caption reading 16-wheels, but it was apparently just another product they were offering.
The picture I've posted includes the shell and the inner machinery, as well as the blurry box in the background. I can post more if it will help.
I'll peruse the site you've recommended.
Picture of the locomotive is in the photos page on this website:
www.reverbnation.com/amicron
IHAETS, does this still have light bulb(s)? So when you put all 8 wheels on the track, what exactly happens? Does it hum? Does it jerk? Smell like it's burning? If it has the light bulb(s), do they light up?
jbrock,
if all 8 wheels are in contact with the rails, then nothing happens. No smell, no audible hum, no movement.
Yes, it has two lightbulbs, one in front and one in back, and they both light up bright when only the front or back 4 wheels are touching rails; in this case the engine whirrs like it should, and no burning smells or humming, but everything stops the moment all wheels are touching the rail.
Can you tell if the direction of the motor also changes, when you change from having only the front truck wheels make contact to having only the back truck wheels make contact?
It appears that if the back wheels are in contact, then the front wants to go in reverse; when the front wheels are in contact, it wants to go forward.
It sounds to me then, as was suggested earlier by one of the good folks who posted looking to help here, that one of those trucks got turned around in the chassis and is not in the original position it is supposed to be in.
I looked at mine, and it's not physically possible to rotate the trucks 180 degrees.
More likely scenario, someone had a truck apart and reinstalled the wheels backwards. Look at a wheelset and you should see a plastic insulator between the wheel and axle. The front and rear truck insulators have to be on opposite sides. And it had to happen with all wheelsets in that truck, not just one axle, or you'd still get a short with only that truck on the rails.
Len
Stole this off an old richardl post (when he used to be richg ;))
http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmannemdgp40diagram1990.jpg
This is the guts of what you have, right boss?
Same concept Len: something ain't right, now is it? With the trucks/wheels, take your pick. Something got turned around somewhere, whether it be just the wheels or the whole truck. At least we are now talking about the right model loco.
That is the same thing I keep coming to, something must have gotten turned around; I'm just not experienced in these matters.
Did the photo help? I will post another, this one will be the engine upside down with the truck covers taken off. Maybe you can see what's going on better. The front of the locomotive will be on the left side of the picture.
I'll post this pic under photos on:
www.reverbnation.com/amicron
jbrock via richardl (formerly known as richg), yes! that diagram looks pretty much exactly like what I have. I have posted a second photo, this one of the trucks with their covers removed.
I tried to switch the wheels in the back truck to no effect.
IHAETS, when you did this earlier today, what exactly did you do and what exactly happened? Please be as descriptive and elaborate as possible.
Re: 2nd pic: Is that traction tires in the front wheels of the front truck? And is that your Geometry Homework on the spiral notebook :D?
All the wheels look to me their meant to pick up track power as per the diagram.
Just so ya know, I am signing off soon to go watch the LIGHTNING send LES HABITANTS off to the golf course. :D
Eureka! I've got it. It was the back truck; someone must have popped the whole thing out and flipped it 180deg. I had trouble getting it out at first, not wanting to break anything. Now it's running like a charm!
Ha, yes it's my calculus notes :)
I really want to thank you all for your friendly comments and gracious attempts to help; this has been among the best forum experiences I've ever had. Now that I've got my old train going again, perhaps I'll be on here more often now :)
Haha, have fun jbrock! thanks again!
I thank all of you for your help!