I have been wiring my new layout using 14 awg red and black wires, and 20 awg feeders, black and red, and connecting them with posi-locks.  I have the majority of the layout wired.  I have two main lines, each connected to its own box.  I run DC.  Each run from the box is about 45 to 50 feet, and I did not connect the bus lines together, it just ends at about 50 feet and left loose at this point.

Today when wiring a few feeders near the end of the bus line I had the trains not run at all.  First thought was I shorted it somehow, but this is impossible because my red is wired to red, and black to black.  I double checked that I had placed the track in the right orientation (but this shouldnt matter if I match colors I believe).  I had wired 3 areas, one mid point and the two towards the end, and disconnected them all, then added one back at a time . The mid point one did not stall the train, so it is ok.  Either of the two end ones cause the train to stop.  I can have the reds connected on both with no ill effects, but if I attempt to connect either black, it shuts down the train.  I did notice on each I would get a spark, but this could happen with all of them if I tried connecting while on.  I normally do not do this since I have seen no issues.

These two are on either side of a turnout, one of those Kato powered guys.  I dont think this is an issue either since the same thing occurs about 5 feet further down where I wired on both sides, and no issues there.

I am at a loss, any ideas?

Good afternoon, I have a pair of Spectrum locomotives, both of which are several years old, and both have potential repair issues I wanted to ask about before potentially sending them off for service.  Both are N scale.

One is an Spectrum EMD SD-45 Diesel which cannot stay on the rails.  It will derail on 19 inch radius, as the back set of wheels comes off, especially most often the very last wheel.  I have run much longer locomotives, including a Kato Amtrak set across the exact track and it has never derailed, no matter what speed, so I know the track is sufficient.  I have watched it closely and it seems to happen most frequently on left curves, but occasionally it will survive that curve only to be undone by a wider right turn with an easement.  I should mention all my 180 degree portions of the layout include a 28" radius easement prior to getting into the 19" section.  I am at a loss for why this loco cannot stay on the tracks.  I use Kato Unitrack, which I believe is Code 80, but this locomotive has only ever run on this track and I have never had any real issues with it.

My second locomotive is a Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation.  This locomotive runs well, and runs down to speeds around 30 or so on the pack with no issues, a bit slower perhaps it will stall out.  The issue with this one is that it appears to smell wrong.  After running no more than a minute or two it almost smells like it is burning, or an ozone smell coming from it.  I don't like to run this very long as I don't want to burn it out, but perhaps this is normal and the locomotive hasn't completed its initial running period when you buy them.  This locomotive has been on a shelf a while, and I don't think I broke it in completely before we moved houses after I bought it.

It looks like the prices to send these guys in is 45 a piece, and the diesel was purchased for only 70 so almost not worth the cost of repair and shipping. 

I am not very good at fixing mechanical stuff, so anything that is going to be too complex, particularly with a soldering iron is out for me.  Any ideas?

A few weeks back I got my 2-8-0 back from the service department and after one revolution of the wheels the main pin on one side came out and the bars fell out.  I put the pin back in and it is holding now, however, it seems like the wheels and/or bars may be out of sync.  The loco performs badly at lower speeds.  If I have the throttle above 50% it seems to run well, but under that it may come to a halt and the loco appears to rock a bit from side to side.  What is the easiest way to get the drive bars back into sync if that is what the problem is?

I have a consolidation running under the tree this year and we always turn it off overnight and other times throughout the day.  This morning the train would not even light up, and I noticed a layer of black substance on the tracks and wheels of the train, I assume this is oil.  Any tips to get my engine back running or is this a service call to Bachmann?