Spinning wheels

Dirty track, oil on track, or need to lube your car's axles

Just a check. If this is a dual motor diesel are both sets of wheels spinning?
Maybe one motor is not running.
Also how is the rolling resistance on your freight cars have you lubed the axles?
Is the track clean on the incline?

franktrain

Did some nails pop on the tracks causing an uneven part somehow where the wheels are not in good contact with the track?

quote:

Originally posted by groundhogslayer:
Dirty track, oil on track, or need to lube your car's axles

What he said...all of the above.

Maybe also a loose power feed wire on an electrical connector to the track power.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by groundhogslayer:
Dirty track, oil on track, or need to lube your car's axles
What he said...all of the above.

I third that sentiment!

I bought an Aerotrain last year. The box gives BIG warnings (as well as forumites issuing the same warning) about making sure to oil the engine and all of the cars before running it.

OK, I did that. The train would BARELY make it around 42" curves after a few days of running. I figured the passenger cars needed another shot of oil - they would roll freely when pushed by hand - so I gave each axle another drop.

Didn't help. I could see the wheels on the engine spinning going around a curve unless I ran it at like 1000 MPH (kidding).

I gave serious thought to selling it even though I've wanted one for years.

Came here and asked for comments. Don't remember who but someone said I overdid it and that I should check the track and wheels. OMG!!!!! Filthy!

I cleaned the track and the wheels, both, and it's been running like a champ ever since.

Never hurts to hear a real-life story when advice is involved.

- walt

Thanks for the advice. I had cleaned the track and and lubricated the engine wheels and axels. I didn't think to lubricate the cars. Also I'm intrigued by the dual motor possibility since the change happened so suddently. I'll be able to check it out tomorrow. Thanks to all.

Arthur

Do you use smoke? The fluid will cause slippery track!

I have found the best way to remove oil and grease from the track is to use ammonia liquid on a cloth and go over the track. Let dry and you won't be able to run your fingers over the track without a lot of resistance. Safe to traction tires, etc., too.

Hope you get things back to normal again.

Enjoy the process though!

Wow did I screw up by leaving out a word!!!

quote:

they would roll freely when pushed by hand

- meant to say that they would NOT roll freely when pushed by hand. YIKES what a mistake!

sorry,

walt

None of the early suggestions have helped. I'm will follow up with the smoke/ammonia suggestions. I am wondering whether a temparature/humidity change could have an effect. It was working without issue before Thanksgiving. I had a lot of travel, etc for about 6 weeks returning last week to be faced with this new problem. The temperature in the basement in the Winter is 60-65 degrees and the humidity is at 35% as opposed to 60-70%.

Thanks for your continuing suggestions.

Arthur

Problem solved. I have a track cleaning car and also give the track more intense treatment from time to time, but the comments about the smoke and ammonia helped keep me focused on the track as the issue. I didn't have any ammonia, so I went over that section of the track with some fine sandpaper. That may not be an approved technique, but it solved the problem. Thanks to all.

Arthur