I have just bought a K27 Fitted decoder today loco0 works fine,
But one query!
When stationery on track with digital (massoth) power on, irrespective of whether the loco's ID is selected or not I hear a noise from the area of the boiler near the gearbox, it sounds like a FAN running, if I cut the Massoth power, the noise ceases, and restarts when I switch Massoth power on again.
Would appreciate any answers!
many thanks
Steve North Wales UK
Yes. You are hearing a fan!
Steve
Many thanks for your fast reply, I thought I was hearing a fan but didnt like to say it, particularly as it does not show up on the diagram sheets included with the loco!
Incidentally do you have a K-27? If so was there a DVD and instruction book included?
They seem to have forgotten to include them in the UK shipment so theres no lubrication info included!! Luckily as I have Shays etc its not a mystery to me.
Its a Nice loco I would go as far as to say probabhly one of the best I have owned in 30 years of Garden railwaying!
Steve
Steve,
I have a K-27 and am very happy with it.
Yes, I got a DVD with mine. It showed the model running and how to lubricate it. There was also a small manual that had the lubricating info and some brief history on the K-27.
If yours came with a decoder then it was probably the reseller that forgot to add these items back in, as Bachmann doesn't sell the loco with a decoder.
I've also heard the fan when idling.
In case you haven't heard the counterweights should be replaced. Here is a link explaining the details:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,4303.0.html
-Jim
Here's a picture taken looking up inside the boiler.
To the left of the picture is the cooling fan. It is mounted so it will move air to cool the motor. Not sure just how much good that will do since the motor is not finned nor does it have any openings in the case. But what the heck, it's there and like chicken soup, it can't hurt.
JD
Quote from: Jon D. Miller on February 22, 2008, 08:09:23 PM
SNIP
To the left of the picture is the cooling fan. It is mounted so it will move air to cool the motor. Not sure just how much good that will do since the motor is not finned nor does it have any openings in the case. But what the heck, it's there and like chicken soup, it can't hurt.
JD
As the fan blows air down it also sucks the air away from the smoke unit and prevents the smoke from rising out of the smoke unit.
If you reverse the fan it sucks cool air up and forces copious amounts of smoke out of the stack.
If you decide to turn the fan around, DO NOT replace the two long screws. They will be too long. Replace them with two shorter screws.
As mentioned above, the fan seems to play no part in cooling the motor.
It does suck any smoke produced by the smoke unit back inside the loco.
While removing or disconnecting the fan may reduce the noise, and it will allow some smoke to escape up the stack. DO NOT REMOVE OR DISCONNECT THE FAN.
It's real purpose seems to be to cool the circuit board, including the two 12 volt regulators seen in the above photo on the board just to the right of the fan.
One of those regulators is for the smoke unit, the other is for fan itself.
If you remove the fan, the regulator for the smoke unit will fail. The regulator might take out the bridge rectifier on the dummy board, decoder or RC unit when it fails. The fan will also prevent any problems with the lighting regulator circuits this summer when temperatures start to soar. Even If you leave the smoke generator turned off, I'd advise not removing the fan, just reversing it. Reversing the fan also improves the air flow and therefore the cooling of the board.
When reversing the fan, be sure to discard the two longer screws. Also inspect the wiring running directly over the fan, they may have been damaged by the long screws during assembly, Tape up any wires where the insulation is damaged.
One final note. The fan is a DC brushless motor, You can NOT make it blow the other direction by reversing the wiring,
Thanks for all the replies
Re the Manual & DVD etc, its a case of them not being there in the first place!, I fit my own decoders & Sound etc. experience over the years has shown me this is preferable to letting someone else do it, !!
Re the counterweights, there is little info forthcoming here in the UK.------------ Bachmnann Europe dont seems to have much idea of what the problem is perhaps if MR BACHMANN reads this he can offer some specific advice and at the same time advise Bachmann in Barwell ,Leicesterhire UK!!
I noticed the fan but it did not interfere with the smoke probably because I installed a Aristo blown smoke unit in mine.
Next time I have the boiler off I will flip the fan over and maybe blow more smoke.
I also run a fan in the tender to cool my on-board and battery eliminator for the sound board.
Gets hot in Florida.
Bud
Hi Bud
thanks for the info
I wish it got HOT here it....... never does....in Sunny (ha-ha) North Wales
Steve
Bud Steinhoff. I would like you to know there are three of us with K 27s all within a few miles of one another in the area of The Villages, FL. We appreciate all the info coming out on the beautiful K 27 and are awaiting the counterweight replacements. Wonder if you are anywhere near us?
Quote from: HoboHarley on February 23, 2008, 02:29:12 PM
Bud Steinhoff. I would like you to know there are three of us with K 27s all within a few miles of one another in the area of The Villages, FL. We appreciate all the info coming out on the beautiful K 27 and are awaiting the counterweight replacements. Wonder if you are anywhere near us?
[/
Just a query from the UK!
I notice that you have quite a few folks with Garden railways living close to each other over there, Is the hobby popular in the USA?
I have done garden railways since '76 and for many many years it was quite a lonely hobby with not many others having any interest, however these days it is getting very popular, there are 5 other Garden railways within a 3 mile radius of mine that I know of, and quite a few more only 10 or so miles away,
( I am in North Wales )
Steve, there are many garden railroaders all over the US and here in Florida we have a state orgn. with about 200+ active members. In North Central Florida we have a small close knit club of 20+ guys. Here we meet monthly at one of the members to run trains and socialize. We knock off in the summer as it is humid and hot.