Legacy Reading T1 Problem

Is it as it enters the incline or when it's fully on the slope that it has issues?  Many times I've seen that the entry and exist of inclines in layouts are not graduated enough and they will cause certain locomotives to stall as they start up the incline and possibly stall at the top.  The bottom entry is usually the more troublesome.

Picture? The incline may be lifting the drivers (rubber tired included) off the rails.

HI JOHN,

  It will happen on the upside of the incline about midway and also if I put it in reverse on the same spot.  The track is curved and the incline might be 1 %.  The curve is banked on one side too.  None of my other engines ever had a problem with this.  I think it might have something to do with the rear truck spring? 

BobbyD posted:

Picture? The incline may be lifting the drivers (rubber tired included) off the rails.

No it is not lifting the drivers on the incline.   It will come to a spot and just sit and spin.  If I apply a bit more speed it will catch and go but you really got to apply power.  But thanks for input. 

laz1957 posted:

BobbyD posted:

Picture? The incline may be lifting the drivers (rubber tired included) off the rails.

No it is not lifting the drivers on the incline.   It will come to a spot and just sit and spin.  If I apply a bit more speed it will catch and go but you really got to apply power.  But thanks for input. 

So you are saying it spins on essential flat track then. By itself? No train coupled on?

BobbyD posted:

laz1957 posted:

BobbyD posted:

Picture? The incline may be lifting the drivers (rubber tired included) off the rails.

No it is not lifting the drivers on the incline.   It will come to a spot and just sit and spin.  If I apply a bit more speed it will catch and go but you really got to apply power.  But thanks for input. 

So you are saying it spins on essential flat track then. By itself? No train coupled on?

I am running it with seven 18 inch Lionel Pullman cars.  But even with that I still do not have issues with other Lionel engines pulling the same cars.

Hard to believe this isn't some issue with the track, but without actually seeing it, it's hard to know.

I will post a video later.  My batteries have to recharge.

Every other engine has no issues with this curve just the T1. 

If it works fine everywhere else, and other locos work thru there, I'm still leaning towards the drivers being lifted off the track. Unless it is caught on something. Pictures will help.

Update on the situation.  I changed out the track and also did some shim work for leveling it out.  I did a run by with the T1 and I think YUZ GUYZ were right with the track.  Seems like it might have been a bit un level.   I have to run it again and when the video is ready I'll show the before and after pics.  Thanks again I think it will work fine now.  Seems like a sensitive type of engine?  Never had this happen with any of my other engines?  We will give it some time to see what it does?  Thanks again.

I've seen the same thing with certain locomotives.  The scale GG-1 seems to have an issue if the track isn't well done, I've seen it stop on a little dip and just sit there spinning the wheels.  In that case, the pilot trucks lift the drivers right off the rails.  The Lionel T1-Duplex is another one that does the same thing.

Flip the engine over and look for the brake shoes touching the traction tires.  If so, loosen the screw and you can turn the shoe a small bit  and get lucky.

Thanks MARTY.  I did that and I am having same issues with the slow speed spinning of the drivers.  Called Lionel this morning and away it goes to Lionel to look at.  I'll let YUZ GUYZ knows what they did.  This morning just for fun took a Lionel Legacy FEF, both in grey and black over same track and no problems at all.  Thanks again for the help. 

Sorry for poor quality video.

I can show you the exact same issue on my carpet layout with a number of locomotives, any small irregularity of the track leveling will do it.

I'll bet money that Lionel sends it back with the comment that nothing is wrong.

Thank you JOHN.  We will see?  I'll let you know what the verdict is.

I believe I recall a similar issue with Lionels MR S3 which also has the new  kinematic drawbar. The drawbar doesn't let the locomotive "float" like its supposed to, and drawbar ends up supporting most of the weight.

I can't recall if  the owner was able to make an adjustment to correct the problem or not, I think so. I've tried searching for the thread with no luck.

Thank you RICKO.  We'll see what happens at Lionel.

What Rico says certainly makes sense. Something is definitely lifting the drive wheels off the rails. I would look at the trailing truck to see if there is any spring up or down to it.

Rod Miller

Its the track and not the engine. Just because 1 or 6 other engines go through it doesn't mean a thing. Some are more sensitive to others.

You have a curve leading into a grade and your track is not completely supported by any type of sub roadbed to keep it level. Lionel is not going to find anything wrong with it is my guess. I would not risk shipping the thing back and forth to Lionel for that.

Get smoke fluid or oil on your tires maybe? Maybe the draw bar needs a little lube because its catching

It happens on the flats too on straight track.  My guess is what RICKO stated.  We'll see what Lionel says.  I shipped it out today.  I will report when I get it back.  Thanks for your replies.

Update on the Legacy Reading T1. 

I just received it back from Lionel.  Was suppose to be here on Tuesday but because of the snow storm just got it back today.  Lionel replaced the engine.  They had stated that there was no parts to fix the problem so they just replaced the whole engine.  Never said what was wrong and I am presuming it might have to do with the drive gears?  They ran it for 4 hours with varying loads of 5-10 lbs and all worked well.  A BIG THANK YOU to LIONEL!!!!  I really like how this engine sounds and travels especially at slow speed. 

Thanks again GUYZ for your help on this issue.

the only two engines I have this issue with are the t-1 and my s3 northern.   but only with very heavy trains on bad track work.  nothing like seen here.

These days Lionel Steam Locos don't weigh as much as they used too. I noticed the VL Big Boy doesn't weigh as much as the JLC version. Same with the Allegheny reissue and the JLC. On the Scale LEGACY S2 Turbine the tender Weighs more than the engine, its like what????  More weight in your locos means better tractive effort (just like the real thing). MTH does it right with their castings such as the Premier GN S2 Northern the (engine its self) weighs as much as 2 Lionel t-1s (engine its self) together. For those who have issues with there Lionel newer Lionel engines pulling power (such as me too) I recommend getting some buckshot, Lead or Uranium to weigh them down some more, (I recommend it being over the wheels with the traction tires) You would be surprised on the performance after that.

I haven't noticed any lack of "heft" with the VL-BB.  It may weigh less than the JLC version, but it's hard to believe it's a big difference.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I haven't noticed any lack of "heft" with the VL-BB.  It may weigh less than the JLC version, but it's hard to believe it's a big difference.

It might not be a huge difference for tractive effort for a Big Boy or Allegheny. But for a "smaller" engine such as a Northern or smaller it could be big factor. Just a pound or 2 makes a difference in pulling power. 5-10+ Car difference depending on what you are pulling.

laz1957 posted:

Update on the Legacy Reading T1. 

I just received it back from Lionel.  Was suppose to be here on Tuesday but because of the snow storm just got it back today.  Lionel replaced the engine.  They had stated that there was no parts to fix the problem so they just replaced the whole engine.  Never said what was wrong and I am presuming it might have to do with the drive gears?  They ran it for 4 hours with varying loads of 5-10 lbs and all worked well.  A BIG THANK YOU to LIONEL!!!!  I really like how this engine sounds and travels especially at slow speed. 

Thanks again GUYZ for your help on this issue.

  They replaced the engine, that's great.  Now that's standing behind their product.