Hi there all
Another American Model Railroader from the U/K nothing in particular
though,
Just purchased a 4-6-2 Rivarossi Southern off that great auction site.
It runs purfect on one circuit but will not cross from one circuit to another
just stops I see the pick ups are on the tender any ideas.
Many Thanks Raymondo
tell us more. long distance diagniosis is very difficult and usually wrong without more info. IIs the track DCC ? Put alligator clips on the leads from the transformer and touch the wheels. Does the locomotive run in both directions ?
Hi ta152HO. Thanks
Im new to any forum so here we go.
Loco Running on DC.
Runs perfect For/Rev on one oval of track will not cross over to another oval
or new circuit .
Ps recentlly purchased 5 New Bachmann Steam Locos no problems.
Thanks Raymond.
Almost sounds like you have a reverse loop setup...is this possible?
Hi
its not a reverse loop set up,
I have 4 Main line ovals divided by insulated joners also at least 20
Diesel/Steam loco that are no trouble.
This loco stops across the double crossvers i can only see pick ups on
tender. I just cant think what it may Be. . loco bought As new.
If its an old model there may onluy be pick ups on one side. Thus the loco pick ups are only on the right hand drivers, and the tenders are only on the left. Therefor when it crosses over, there is only 1 pick up, so no power to the motor... That's my only thought. My 4-8-2 is similar having pick ups on the right hand drivers, and tender pickups on the left hand wheels.
Hi Guilford Guy. Thanks.
I think you are right all i can see are two plungers onto the Drivers
No Wires to motor .
The Power seems to come from the tender through the metal coupling
bar for tender i expect its more pick ups off the engine.
Thanks Again all for all your help Raymond
I think what you need to do is add a pick up on the left side of the locomotive. This will need to be insulated from the locomotive or you will have a nice short.
Old Rivarossi were not known for their reliability.
Gene
The rivarossi steam locos are wired exactly the same as most brass steam with the drivers from one side being electrically connected to the chassis and one side of the motor while the other motor lead is connected to the tender through the drawbar and the tender wheels on the opposite side picking up the electricity. This means if the loco has crossed the point where you isolated the crossover and the tender has not they are possibly on different circuits depending on your wiring
Check the drawbar from the locomotive to the tenderand clean the connection at the loco and tender.I hac the same problem with a 4-6-4 that had sat around for a while.
Don
Quote from: modlerbob on March 03, 2008, 12:26:07 AM
The rivarossi steam locos are wired exactly the same as most brass steam with the drivers from one side being electrically connected to the chassis and one side of the motor while the other motor lead is connected to the tender through the drawbar and the tender wheels on the opposite side picking up the electricity. This means if the loco has crossed the point where you isolated the crossover and the tender has not they are possibly on different circuits depending on your wiring
Modlerbob is exactly right on this. If you have a double track oval and each oval is wired separately from the other, then the moment that the last drive wheel of the engine crosses into electrically dead territory. Can you power any track from any controller?
I remember being fascinated many years ago that Arnold Rapido's N scale track plans were shown such that different areas of the layout were powered by different controllers rather than being accessible to any controller by rotary switches that would connect any giver controller to any power block.
Unless you have a continous electrical circuit, the engine is going to come to a dead halt.
Andre
Hi Modelerbob and all
You are right but there is power on from another controller for the
loco section.
Will check grumpy reply.
Can I say Thanks to every One who have replied Its my first time on
any forum im amazed.
Thanks Again Raymond
Hi all
Today I have managed to get the loco Wheels to turn with out the Tender
Only off the track, A set of wires from a controller,. one wire to the Drive
Wheels and the other Wire to the drawbar not the normal way to test
a loco. what next ???
Thanks Raymond
Raymondo, you trying to get power from two different power packs. You will have to wire the crossover section to be able to recieve power from either source and then when the loco and tender are both in the crossover switch from the original to the second power pack.
Hi Modelerbob.
Your way works but it needs to be switched or it shorts out on the two
controllers,its a lot of work for one loco I have more than one crossover,
Ill wait and see if any thing can be done to loco.
Thanks Again Raymondo.
you tested a rivarossi correctly, most of the old ones were like this from day one. A doulbe cross over? 2 diamonds? then you might need power leads to a dead spot in the middle that MOST engines will handle, but this one just-won't. I have insulated switch frogs like that, every loco is a toss up. Do 0-4-0 tanks stop there too???? All wheel pickup on a long engine is sweet at times like this..
Rivarossi had drivers picking up power from one rail thru sping loaded contact pins against the inside of 2 drivers (right rail) as I recall, and the tender picked up the other rail. I suspect the pin contacts need to be disassembled, cleaned, and lightly lubed. Make sure the tender contacts are all good too.
I have the exact set-up you have and have no problems with Rivarossis or anything else crossing from one loop/power pack to another as long as the polarity is right. DC does have it's virtues.
Hi Virginian and all
The loco set up is exactly as you say i have just cleaned the Plungers
they are tight on the drivers (no look) should the loco move on its own
the only way I can get the drivers to move as i said before.
No problems with any other lLoco even the latest Spectrums Steam.
they are Great
thanks all Again Raymond..
I have an old Rivarossi that was aggravating me .It would not run properlyand made some growling noises. What I found was that one of the trucks under the tender had got turned 180 degrees and was picking up from the opposite rail that it was supposed to. This may be your problem.
Don ???
Are you sure your crossover track is energized at all points? Do you have your insulation gaps staggered? How much? Are you sure your tender contacts and engine contacts have continuity all the way to the motor? I have had broken wires on the tender truck pick ups and going from the plunger pick ups to the motor. Those are some SMALL wires.
Hi Grumpy/Virginian.
Still pulling my hair out its not the tender trucks,will check what
Virginian Say but all other locos run though alright. why,
This loco run perfect on one circuit will not cross over.
Loco will not run on its own.
There are no wires from the plungers I think power goes though the chassis
Its time to pack it away
Many thanks all again