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Looking for feedback on Sunset PRR Brill doodlebug running qualities

Keystoned EdKeystoned EdOGR Forum Member

For the past several week I've been trying to smooth out the performance of my Sunset 3rd Rail 2 rail Brill doodlebug.  It runs nicely at medium to high speeds  but lurches at starts and stops. I've had the same poor performance whether running with or without a DCC decoder.  I've tried NCE and QSI decoders and played with the motor control CV's - no luck.  It just may be that the small between the axels motor has insufficient torque at low voltages to deliver the smooth starts and stops I'm looking for - or the problem may just be with my model.  

Before going down a repowering path (probably with NWSL' s new O scale Stanton drive truck) I'd like to know what performance others are getting with their Sunset doodlebugs.

Ed Rappe

Last edited by Keystoned Ed
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P prrjimOGR Forum Member

Mine runs stiff too, but seems to be getting better as it runs in.    I think the problem is that new out of the box, everything is stiff.   

You might try running it in each direction on a test stand for an hour or so and then testing it.    I don't think the electronic controls will do much if the drive is not good.

Keystoned EdKeystoned EdOGR Forum Member

PRRJIM - Your tip is a sound one.  One of the first things I did was to loop run it in each direction for an hour or so.   It helped a little but the darn thing still lurches to a start.  And when I bring it into a station at around 5 scale MPH it will abruptly stop in its tracks when I notch down the throttle.  At your suggestion I'll give it another hour of loop running and see if it improves.  I don't look forward to spending another $95 to replace the power truck with a NWSL Stanton drive - but if that's what it takes to have a smooth running model I'll pull the trigger.  It will be interesting  to see if other folks with Sunset doodlebugs respond to the thread.

Ed Rappe

 

PRR ManPRR ManOGR Forum Member

Ed,

that drive is the same as the Sunset RDC drive. Since it drives two gearboxes the drag on the small motor may be too much for it to slow smoothly

I don't think motor size is the issue. I have a NJ custom brass Brill 660, which is the same model as the Sunset. Mine has a Wagner drive in it with a SMALL mabuchi motor driving a gearbox on the forward axle, linked to the rear axle with a spring loop. With a Tsunami HO decoder I can get it to crawl at speed step 3 on a 28 step scale.

perhaps continued break-in is needed.

 

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