RK Dash 8 hesitating, sparking when starting to move.

@c.sam posted:

RK Santa Fe #30-20003-1 hadn't been run in a few years, giving it a check out on my test track. Started right up fine, all sounds good, started moving in forward with throttle and it hesitated with lights flickering and I noticed sparks at the rolers. Then she shut down. I moved it an inch either way and she would start again fine and when giving it throttle it would start to move and 'short out' for lack of a better term.  No effects on the brick's circuit trips and she would light back up again and sounds come on if I slid her even a fraction of an inch.

Lifted her up and rollers are free moving and don't see anything out of sorts. PS 2. Don't remember if 3v or 5v, was delivered in 2010.  Any suggestions please?

Thanks

OPERATOR’S MANUAL (3V PS-2)

Be sure rollers and wheels are clean.  Check the pickup roller leads passing through the frame for wear on the insulation at the slot in the frame.

In addition to the typical clean track, wheels and pickup rollers, I had a brand new RailKing engine do the same thing.  It turned out that the pickup roller arms did not move freely and where sticking.  I had to lube and "tweak" the spacing at the pivot to fix it. 
Turn the engine over and press down the pickup rollers.  When you let them go they should snap back into place.  The ones on my bad engine would move back slowly and stick. 

I also use conductive lube on the pickup rollers and assemblies.  The lube I have is made by Bachmann and seems to work very well.

Good luck,
Tony

Check for damaged pickup wire insulation also.  Ground screws for outside wheels to wire also.  G