My train doesn’t run right on track and I need help. Does someone know what’s going on?
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Wow, you’ll need to supply more information.
romiller49 posted:Wow, you’ll need to supply more information.
I’m sorry I mean that my train would run across the track and spark or not even run at all. The transformer light would blink.
Sounds like a short to me try taking the engine and tender off and see if the light stops blinking when you power up the transformer.
Bill Makel posted:Sounds like a short to me try taking the engine and tender off and see if the light stops blinking when you power up the transformer.
Ive done it many times to make sure it wasn’t something on the wheels. Their wasn’t. It just has shorts.
Next step: disconnect the transformer from the tracks, turn it on and if the light doesn't blink connect the track sections one by one to the transformer until the light blinks and you've found your shorted track section. Bill Makel
Bill Makel posted:Next step: disconnect the transformer from the tracks, turn it on and if the light doesn't blink connect the track sections one by one to the transformer until the light blinks and you've found your shorted track section. Bill Makel
Ok it’s my first time taking it apart in 2 years so I forget how to connect it back.
What type of transformer do you have? Don't worry about it, if you have problems trying to hook it back up, I'm sure there will be someone here that can help you figure it out. Best of luck and I hope you can get it corrected and be able to run your trains without the sparks flying.
There are pins in the ends of the tracks. Just line them up with the holes in the next track and you are ready to go. Bill Makel
J. Motts posted:What type of transformer do you have? Don't worry about it, if you have problems trying to hook it back up, I'm sure there will be someone here that can help you figure it out. Best of luck and I hope you can get it corrected and be able to run your trains without the sparks flying.
I have the Lionel CW80 transformer.
It can run on those locomotive rollers just fine as you can see from the vid
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It just doesn’t run on the track and it’s clean too.
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On the rollers the lead and trailing trucks are hanging. When placed on track they are brought up level with as they should be. Perhaps one or the other is causing a short when in the level position. Try removing the lead truck and then try the engine on track. If no success remove the trailing truck. One of the two are shorting somewhere. Good luck.
It’s on level I think my train couldn’t take the JT mega steam I was using. I mean ever since then it stopped working correctly. It’s also Lionel’s mikado Jr it’s it for 0-27 and up.
I have never had a problem with any engine no matter what brand of smoke fluid I used in it.
Now we’re talking smoke? A complete disassembly is in order to find the cause.
Do you have any extra pieces of Fastrack ? If so, connect 2 or 3 pieces together and disconnect the transformer from the track and connect it to one end of the pieces you have assembled. Put the train on it and power up the transformer and see if the train runs OK on the pieces of Fastrack and whether the green light comes on.
Heck with the smoke fluid, I'd try Red & Tacky grease on the gears. I learned about this stuff right here on this forum. And boy, is ever great stuff! Sticks to your gears (and ribs) when the smoke fluid flies off!
Usually when my green light blinks on my CW-80, it means I'm trying to power a little too much stuff with not quite enough ooomph. I cured that problem by deep-sixing that anemic little sucker, and putting some serious power to the tracks.....................................
One nice thing about having more than enough power - you never have a problem finding a short. There's a blinding flash of light, sparks, and flames, followed by a smoldering pile of soot and ashes. Problem solved!
Of course, it's always wise to keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case. And make sure your home owner's policy is up-to-date, and your local fire department's number is on your speed dial. And the most important thing of all, don't listen to guys like me. We'll get you in all kinds of trouble! 
On a more serious note, hope you find your short. Nothing more aggravating than trains that don't run right. Don't ask me how I know. 
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TheRoyalHudson988 posted:It just doesn’t run on the track and it’s clean too.
Yea, process of elimination here. I see you have a piece of tubular 0-gauge track on your control panel. Maybe try and hook up the CW-80 to that track and see it the loco will operate on that. If it wont, then that eliminates the layout track as being the problem and you have to look at the loco or tender wiring.
It’s ok guys a screw from the bottom of my train got lose and I just had to tighten it. It’s good now.
Excellent news.
