So I installed a whistle I found at the local hobby shop a few months ago into my 259's tender. Problem is... when it's hooked up to the locomotive and in motion, it shorts quickly as soon as I press the button then works fine, it does this about 75% of the time. I can't replicate it while pulling the tender with my hand or sitting still. I ran the them with the lights off and there doesn't seem to be any sparks occurring between the loco & tender. Anybody have any ideas?
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What transformer, what whistle controller, and how do you know it's a short circuit?
What exactly is it doing? The transformer whistle controller activates the coil on the whistle, and completes the circuit.
With power applied to the whistle, you should be able to move the metal plates below the coil, and the whistle should operate.
If your whistle controller is working properly, a very simple test is that the engine should speed up just a little bit.
Just trying to narrow it down a bit.
Does it do this on straights or just curves. Check out if the tender trucks are somehow shorting.
My first thought is that the two motors running is too much for the transformer (one for the engine, the other in the whistle). The question is why? I have run prewar and postwar engines with whistles with several CW-80's without issue.
Are you sure you do not have the 40w version?
It's not a short, it's an "overcurrent". The CW does not have a circuit breaker, instead it has a "fold back" feature and will not even for a second deliver over 5 amps(where the blinking light comes on), which is what you are asking it to do.
Between the engine and tender, you have 2 open frame AC/DC universal motors, and two solenoids with one of the motors drawing extra starting current when you activate the whistle, in addition to whatever else is on the track at the time(all bulbs, motors, & accessories).
You can get the whistle to work by cutting it in at a lower voltage setting(reducing the current draw) and bringing the throttle up once the whistle motor is up to speed.
A fully serviced loco and whistle(using super slippery modern synthetic lubes) will additionally reduce the current draw for a given throttle setting.
I went through and cleaned up both motors (including the brushes, all the contacts & bearings etc...) and used marvels pneumatic tool oil for all the bearings, is there anything I can do to reduce the draw?
Did you lube the bearing/bushing between the impeller & the armature windings?
Liquid bearings or Mobil 1 is the best oil for Oilite type wear surfaces. It impregnates well and is super slippery.
Did you use a period correct whistle or retrofit a newer type?
I couldn't figure how to get the armature separated from the impellor so I just dribbled some oil in that area and hoped it got into the bearings.
I used a whistle from the exact model tender I own.
Use a needlepoint oiler to get into the tight spots. Lube the removable lower bearing too.
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