Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => Thomas & Friends => Topic started by: shining time on June 02, 2009, 11:29:17 AM

Title: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 02, 2009, 11:29:17 AM
has anyone had a problem with percy overheating? ???
i have had 2 percys with the same problem, they  run on a small layout  and he is only pulling 2 cars.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: James The Red Engine on June 02, 2009, 11:52:22 AM
Nope, never happened to me.  Have you been running him at high speeds?  They aren't built to run at full speed all the time.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 02, 2009, 11:58:08 AM
no i don't run him at high speeds,and  he somtimes he smells like rubber burning
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 02, 2009, 04:40:03 PM
dear the bachmann
I have the bachmann percy and i am having a problem please help
this is my problem, percy overheats and have to run him at 50+ in order for him to move. this is my 2nd percy.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: Anthony P2 on June 02, 2009, 08:43:41 PM
mine overheated the other day. white smoke started to come out of him. and he smelt wierd.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 02, 2009, 08:51:43 PM
anthony p2
mine isn't smoking yet! but mine smells weird too.
i also ask the bachmann about this . you might want to ask the bachmann too.  if i get an answer i will post it. thanks
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: jettrainfan on June 02, 2009, 09:32:00 PM
Quote from: Anthony P2 on June 02, 2009, 08:43:41 PM
mine overheated the other day. white smoke started to come out of him. and he smelt wierd.

DCC controller? to shining time & Anthony P2
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: ThomasFan247 on June 02, 2009, 09:51:11 PM
My first Percy out of 2 overheated, but I did have it for about 6-7 years.  :-\
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: Guilford Guy on June 02, 2009, 09:54:28 PM
Quote from: jettrainfan on June 02, 2009, 09:32:00 PM
Quote from: Anthony P2 on June 02, 2009, 08:43:41 PM
mine overheated the other day. white smoke started to come out of him. and he smelt wierd.

DCC controller? to shining time & Anthony P2
We can assume the new guy's is not DCC equipped as he would have stated. Motors frequently get warm, so its not something you should be terribly worried about. It won't suddenly catch fire and create a lake of burning plastic on your layout. Does the loco run with a jerking motion, or smoothly.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: Anthony P2 on June 02, 2009, 10:01:27 PM
Quote from: jettrainfan on June 02, 2009, 09:32:00 PM
Quote from: Anthony P2 on June 02, 2009, 08:43:41 PM
mine overheated the other day. white smoke started to come out of him. and he smelt wierd.

DCC controller? to shining time & Anthony P2

nope regular bachmann and an Atlas transformer

i also ran percy a couple of times in the last year or so and if i put him on full speed for about 1 min he would smell bad when i stoped him and i saw white smoke,a nd it takes me a wile for him to get a good connectin to the track(and yes i always clean my track) the poor engine is 5 -6 years old
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 03, 2009, 01:26:55 PM
no dcc on my layout but mine just heats up because i have to run him at 50+ for him to go tracks are clean. short jerks in the begining but none after that
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: jettrainfan on June 03, 2009, 03:52:44 PM
i Would say it needs some breaking in but the smoke part demolished that idea :(.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: Guilford Guy on June 03, 2009, 04:02:57 PM
Its possible the wheels are a little dirty... Take a paper towel wet with rubbing alcohol and lay it across the rails. Put the first set of drivers on the paper towel, holding the loco there, while turning up the power. You'll probably get big black streaks on the paper towel. Do this for the rear drivers as well.
Another possibility is the wheels are out of quarter, but don't attempt to fix that unless you know exactly what you're doing.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: goldwing on June 03, 2009, 04:05:28 PM
Hay, just a month ago my percy stoped working too. He was only about maybe one year old, and he did smell like burning ruber or a skunk (don't aks me why I know this :P). But also on the layout, he would run w/ jerks almost every time and then stop, and thats when th smell kicks into action. The smoking didn't happen untill my final run to see if my new controler (the one that you get in the bachmann thomas set as the one in my james set broke while I moved :-\). So from that day onward I stoped using him, and bought a new one w/ a gordon. But now he is used for parts if my engins needed it. The speed I ran percy on was about 40 to start, and just about at 45 it began to jerck too. His pulling poer was waek though, as he could only pull one gordon coach w/ miner strugle. But that put the thought in my head that something is wrong. :-\
Well  any answers dudes?
P.S. GG, his wheels were clean, as I rubed it with a soft cloth w/ h2o, but still dude, you got all the answers, and maybe can you answer this mistery, and I will try the alchol idea too. We need your help too Mr. Bachmann sir. Thanks.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 03, 2009, 05:19:36 PM
thanks giulford guy for the idea i will try it
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: jward on June 04, 2009, 09:37:36 PM
Quote from: shining time on June 03, 2009, 01:26:55 PM
no dcc on my layout but mine just heats up because i have to run him at 50+ for him to go tracks are clean. short jerks in the begining but none after that


if you have to put him on full throttle just to get him to move you probably have a bind somewhere. if that is true, no wonder he is overheating. motors that aren't running smooth because of a bind in the rods or gearbox are going to draw alot of power and overheat.

does he run jerky when he is moving?
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 05, 2009, 08:50:31 AM
sometimes but not all the time but i haven't been running him because of it but thanks.
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: ZeldaTheSwordsman on June 12, 2009, 11:10:49 PM
Also, make sure his insulators are intact. A loco missing one or more insulators will run, but will also smoke and smell as the wires are slowly singed. (I have Super Chief loco with this problem. I want to fix it. My grandmother on my dad's side gave it to me. I...sorry for the drift.)
Title: Re: problem with percy
Post by: shining time on June 13, 2009, 11:14:57 AM
it's alright but thanks i am getting a new one in the mail this week :) :) :) :) :)