Tmcc engine stalls on inclines

Lead and trailing truck taking weight off of the drivers. That's guessing that yours just spins??

or does it really stall?

Engineer-Joe posted:

Lead and trailing truck taking weight off of the drivers. That's guessing that yours just spins??

or does it really stall?

Hi Joe,

No spinning, it just stalls/stops and want move; however, if I put in in reverse, it moves back down the grade with no problem.

-Blake

How long is the consist?

 It has been mentioned in the past that the K Line steamers use a smaller can motor which doesn't help.

What about the easy stuff? Have you greased the gearbox? Oiled the drive rods and axle bushings?

 K-Line steamers aren't the best pullers but not the worst. Still should pull at least 12 weighted cars up a mild grade. How steep are we talking an incline ?   Is the engine slowing down and stopping or is just a rapid stop ?  I'm going to rule out that the engine loses power as far as electrical. As you stated it can reverse and go back down the hill. How many cars are you pulling ?   Does the problem go away if you remove a few cars ?

RickO posted:

How long is the consist?

 It has been mentioned in the past that the K Line steamers use a smaller can motor which doesn't help.

What about the easy stuff? Have you greased the gearbox? Oiled the drive rods and axle bushings?

Hi Rick,

Come to think of it,  I have done all the above except greasing the gearbox.  I will give that a try. 

Thanks,

- Blake

Dave_C posted:

 K-Line steamers aren't the best pullers but not the worst. Still should pull at least 12 weighted cars up a mild grade. How steep are we talking an incline ?   Is the engine slowing down and stopping or is just a rapid stop ?  I'm going to rule out that the engine loses power as far as electrical. As you stated it can reverse and go back down the hill. How many cars are you pulling ?   Does the problem go away if you remove a few cars ?

It’s pulling a set of about 6 K-line passenger cars.  It’s about a 2% incline.  It slows down and then comes to a stop.  I haven’t tried removing any cars.  The layout belongs to a friend of mine and he has the same type of K-line locomotive and it doesn’t hesitate at all going up the grade.  The only thing that’s been done to this engine was to upgrade it to ERR command M so that I could have cruise.  It is programmed for cruise in the on position.  The unit works fine pulling on a level area but when inclining, is when I have the problem.

Thank,

-Blake

When I run my trains outside, as I build up the train, I physically grab the first car or the coupler and pull it up the grade slightly. I want to know exactly what the engines will see. I can then figure on how many engines the train will need.

 When I service a steam engine or installing command, I run the motor directly wheels up in the air with a small battery pack to make sure the lube gets in everywhere and listen for any problems. I will also grab the flywheel and spin it by hand to check for any binding. Really old grease can actually bind stuff up.

I just had a new engine right out of the box have frozen rusted pilot wheels and pivot, that shocked me. Sometimes a rubber tire throws off and binds in the side rods. You just never know until you check.

You have to look at everything. Sometimes a power problem.

Engineer-Joe posted:

When I run my trains outside, as I build up the train, I physically grab the first car or the coupler and pull it up the grade slightly. I want to know exactly what the engines will see. I can then figure on how many engines the train will need.

 When I service a steam engine or installing command, I run the motor directly wheels up in the air with a small battery pack to make sure the lube gets in everywhere and listen for any problems. I will also grab the flywheel and spin it by hand to check for any binding. Really old grease can actually bind stuff up.

I just had a new engine right out of the box have frozen rusted pilot wheels and pivot, that shocked me. Sometimes a rubber tire throws off and binds in the side rods. You just never know until you check.

You have to look at everything. Sometimes a power problem.

This was the first time that this engine has been tested like this.  When I bought it, it appeared to be in perfect working order and smooth operations without any problems.  So I’m going to open the gear box and give a good greasing.  If that’s not the problem, then I’m just going to assume it’s a week engine and just shelve it for looks.  I hate to do that because it is a really beautiful engine with no cosmetic flaws and I like to see it run.

-Blake

 I have a K-Line Mikado and 2 Berkshires. The Mikado has K-Line cruise added and is a good runner. I usually run it with about 8 to 10 freight cars. One of the Berkshires had the stock cruise go belly up and it was replaced with an ERR board. To be honest after I fixed it. I haven't run it much. I have other engines with ERR cruise and they run fine.

 What is your friend running for a power supply ?  The 6 lighted cars may add to the problem. With lighting and the Mikado dragging 12 rollers as well as the weight of the cars. It may be a bit much for your engine. Although your friends engine handles it. The only thing I would check. Make sure the motor mount is tight, the mount sort of fastens to the gearbox with 2 screws. While your in there. As Rick mentioned. A good time to check the gear lube.

Blake Morris posted:

Dave_C posted:

 K-Line steamers aren't the best pullers but not the worst. Still should pull at least 12 weighted cars up a mild grade. How steep are we talking an incline ?   Is the engine slowing down and stopping or is just a rapid stop ?  I'm going to rule out that the engine loses power as far as electrical. As you stated it can reverse and go back down the hill. How many cars are you pulling ?   Does the problem go away if you remove a few cars ?

It’s pulling a set of about 6 K-line passenger cars.  It’s about a 2% incline.  It slows down and then comes to a stop.  I haven’t tried removing any cars.  The layout belongs to a friend of mine and he has the same type of K-line locomotive and it doesn’t hesitate at all going up the grade.  The only thing that’s been done to this engine was to upgrade it to ERR command M so that I could have cruise.  It is programmed for cruise in the on position.  The unit works fine pulling on a level area but when inclining, is when I have the problem.

Thank,

-Blake

the plot thickens

it is not the same loco after you upgraded it to err command M.

something is not correct with the settings.

gunrunnerjohn will have more I would believe.

bigdodgetrain posted:

Blake Morris posted:

Dave_C posted:

 K-Line steamers aren't the best pullers but not the worst. Still should pull at least 12 weighted cars up a mild grade. How steep are we talking an incline ?   Is the engine slowing down and stopping or is just a rapid stop ?  I'm going to rule out that the engine loses power as far as electrical. As you stated it can reverse and go back down the hill. How many cars are you pulling ?   Does the problem go away if you remove a few cars ?

It’s pulling a set of about 6 K-line passenger cars.  It’s about a 2% incline.  It slows down and then comes to a stop.  I haven’t tried removing any cars.  The layout belongs to a friend of mine and he has the same type of K-line locomotive and it doesn’t hesitate at all going up the grade.  The only thing that’s been done to this engine was to upgrade it to ERR command M so that I could have cruise.  It is programmed for cruise in the on position.  The unit works fine pulling on a level area but when inclining, is when I have the problem.

Thank,

-Blake

the plot thickens

it is not the same loco after you upgraded it to err command M.

 

something is not correct with the settings.

 

gunrunnerjohn will have more I would believe.

I’m suppose to see GRJ this week at York and leave this unit with him to fix a smoke issue for me.  I’ll ask him about the current problem when I see him.  He told me that he was very busy and might be some time before he could get to fixing this for me but I will ask him if he wouldn’t mind checking the motor for me as well.

Dave_C posted:

 I have a K-Line Mikado and 2 Berkshires. The Mikado has K-Line cruise added and is a good runner. I usually run it with about 8 to 10 freight cars. One of the Berkshires had the stock cruise go belly up and it was replaced with an ERR board. To be honest after I fixed it. I haven't run it much. I have other engines with ERR cruise and they run fine.

 What is your friend running for a power supply ?  The 6 lighted cars may add to the problem. With lighting and the Mikado dragging 12 rollers as well as the weight of the cars. It may be a bit much for your engine. Although your friends engine handles it. The only thing I would check. Make sure the motor mount is tight, the mount sort of fastens to the gearbox with 2 screws. While your in there. As Rick mentioned. A good time to check the gear lube.

Hi Dave,

My friend running the cab1 using a TPC 300 with two 135 watt bricks attached.  His has stock K-line cruise and doesn’t hesitate at all to pull those passenger cars.