Polar Express stalling Problem

Hi Ray,

As of yet, no problems, however I printed out your instructions just in case.

Thanks,

Francine

Ray, like Francine, my Polar Express set did not seem to have the same issue as yours did, but I will definitely save your solution for later reference.  However, my set did have a stalling problem, but it was caused by a weak transformer. 

 When I received my set last fall I set it up around the Christmas tree and placed just the engine on the track.  When I powered it up it ran fine until I cranked the control wheel past the halfway point.  At that the engine abruptly stalled and then restarted.  When I added the cars it would stall after turning the wheel only 1/4 turn.

 As it turned out the transformer included in the set was just too under-powered.  If I recall it was 32 watts.  I bought a 72 watt one and that solved the problem.  While I was waiting for the new transformer to arrive, I took a 15B transformer, located a salvaged power supply from some broken electronics I had long since discarded and that had a cord with a connector on the end that fit the FastTrack plug, cut the cord off and attached it to the 15B and ran the set with that.

 Toward the end of the holidays it did stall a couple of times, but cleaning the track was all it took to fix that.  I packed it away after the New Year, so when I pull it out this fall I'll check to make sure the draw bar is properly oriented.

 Thanks again for the info!

 Dean

Although not S gauge my grandsons lionchief set had the same problems. Turned out to be the fastrack supplied with the set. The conductivity at the pins was the culprit even though it was fastened down.

I realize this is an old thread, but I was hoping I could get some help. I purchased the American Flyer Polar Express set for Christmas this year. Ran for two weeks and somehow one of the connecting rods got bound up causing the train to stop, but you could hear the motor "buzzing" as it was still trying to run. I tried to turn it off as soon as it happened, but within a second or two it was almost like a breaker flipped and all power shut off. I was able to disassemble the wheels and connecting rods to straighten them out. My problem was, I was so upset I did not pay as close attention as I should have to put it back together. Particularly the leading and trailing trucks. I got it back together the way I THINK it is supposed to be, but I was hoping someone could confirm. Could someone either provide a picture or a detailed description please? In particular, the two screws on the front truck, and the forward screw on the trailing truck. I was wanting to know how the spring and metal ring are oriented on the front truck. And between those three screws there was a flat metal washer I need help placing. The reason is, the locomotive will turn on, but it barely moves at all before it makes a "shorting" sound and turns off. Sometimes just the locomotive shuts off, but sometimes it trips the whole power supply to the track. I want to make sure it is put back exactly how it should be before I contact Lionel for service.

Carl Tuveson has a break down of PE.     

https://www.tuveson.com/Polar-Burk/polar-burk.html

Thank you for the quick reply and the link! Unfortunately, the parts I am inquiring about are not covered in those pictures.

DRUMPHARMER,

I try later today to get some pics and explain the assembly. You do need to make sure that all insulators on the valve gear are in their proper position.

Ray

DRUMPHARMER,

Awesome! Thank you so much. I apologize if I have not yet learned the terminology as this is the first train I have owned since I was a kid. But what do you mean by "make sure that all insulators on the valve gear are in their proper position."? Thank you!

If I am remembering correctly, there are a couple of insulating "plastic washers" that insulate the side rods on the locomotive where the screws attach them to the wheels. It has been a while since I had this apart but I believe I am correct on this.

Ray

Ray

I have finally given up on the Lionel Polar Express HO I bought last year, it just stalls all the time. I have cleaned the track, lub the engine, cleaned wheels and measured the voltage on every piece of track and it still stalls. I run any other HO engine on the track and I have no issues. With BT the stall disconnects and have to wait for a reconnect. When it does this in the back part of the track against the wall I am stuck. If you tap the second car will often get power again. If you have solutions could you also show pics?? Terms might not be so familiar to me.

JIM

Sorry to hear that, l have the S gauge PE, sounds like a broken wire on your HO PE.

Ray

DrumPharmer posted:

I realize this is an old thread, but I was hoping I could get some help. I purchased the American Flyer Polar Express set for Christmas this year. Ran for two weeks and somehow one of the connecting rods got bound up causing the train to stop, but you could hear the motor "buzzing" as it was still trying to run. I tried to turn it off as soon as it happened, but within a second or two it was almost like a breaker flipped and all power shut off. I was able to disassemble the wheels and connecting rods to straighten them out. My problem was, I was so upset I did not pay as close attention as I should have to put it back together. Particularly the leading and trailing trucks. I got it back together the way I THINK it is supposed to be, but I was hoping someone could confirm. Could someone either provide a picture or a detailed description please? In particular, the two screws on the front truck, and the forward screw on the trailing truck. I was wanting to know how the spring and metal ring are oriented on the front truck. And between those three screws there was a flat metal washer I need help placing. The reason is, the locomotive will turn on, but it barely moves at all before it makes a "shorting" sound and turns off. Sometimes just the locomotive shuts off, but sometimes it trips the whole power supply to the track. I want to make sure it is put back exactly how it should be before I contact Lionel for service.

Hi, I am new to the forum & just posted some info about my experience with AF PE. Don't know if it will help you. Wanted you to know it is there. RodRocket