Older Crown Edition #5033 Southern PS-4 4-6-2 stutter chatter - SOLVED!!!

[CameraBoy75]

I'm trying to run my #5033 Southern PS-4 with my Lionel 1033 90 watt transformer and the relay in the tender makes a clicking sound when the train starts to move causing the loco to stutter.  If I start very slowly the train will run fine until I attempt to increase the voltage at some point.  Sometimes I can get beyond this point and the loco runs fine.  Do you think this is transformer related?  It's my only transformer and it runs my Lionel fine.

Regards,
Wayne

[671]

Hi Cameraboy75,

                671 here.

Before you try a more powerful transformer ...

1.   Only run your locomotive by itself ... i.e. no other loads on that low powered transformer. (Lighted cars, accessories etc.)
2.   Clean center roller pick-ups and wheels with plastic friendly contact cleaner. Remove any and all built-up gunk. Scrape off wheel debris as needed.
3.   Lubricate center roller and wheel bushings with electrically conductive lubricant ( non-carbonizing oil/lube )
4.   Clean your track. Use a mild Scotch pad with a de-greaser like Windex to gently clean all rails of your track.

                                             Merry Christmas ... Hope this helps

                                                                671

[CameraBoy75]

I checked the dip switches on the tender and they were set wrong.
Two were set to on and that caused the issue.

With these settings the loco runs fine.

forward=off
auto=on
reverse=off