Wheel Resistance Help Question

The obvious answer is to lighten the pressure on the contacts.  Looks like there's a spring inside that plunger housing, try a lighter spring.

If the cars were purchased seperately then there's a good chance the small engine simply is not strong enough to pull them. They look pretty big for the engine. The springs in the wipers certainly would not get stronger. Remove the wipers and run unlit.

Rod Miller

romiller49 posted:

If the cars were purchased seperately then there's a good chance the small engine simply is not strong enough to pull them. They look pretty big for the engine. The springs in the wipers certainly would not get stronger. Remove the wipers and run unlit.

Rod Miller

That's definitely not the case. This LGB engine is very powerful and pulls a long string of freight cars with no problem, even this holiday season.  It's been pulling these passenger cars every year without issue. But this year, the loco's wheels are spinning at times without it pulling forward. Even pushing these passenger cars astound the track by hand this year gives good resistance.  

If I disconnect the wipers, the cars will not be lit and the wipers are an incredible pain to put back in place. Ugh!

GRJ - if I decide to remove the wipers,  any idea where I can get tiny springs with less tension?  I think the dealer who sold me the locomotive went out of business. 

Peter

I collect springs from all sorts of sources so I have a collection when such an issue arises.  You might look at McMaster Carr, here's their page on Compression Springs.  You obviously have to figure out the specifications for what you would need, I can't really do that from a photo.

Something has definately changed. I wish I could offer a solution.

Rod Miller

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I collect springs from all sorts of sources so I have a collection when such an issue arises.  You might look at McMaster Carr, here's their page on Compression Springs.  You obviously have to figure out the specifications for what you would need, I can't really do that from a photo.

Thanks GRJ. 

Thanks Rod 

So 8 free-spinning axles, 8 with wipers.  If you flick the free-spinning axles do they all spin down after roughly the same # of revs?  In other words, can those be ruled out as an issue?

If you manually launch individual cars down the track, do they all roll the same distance?

Hard to imagine how all 4 cars would simultaneously go south in 2016.  Since you've been running this set for many years did you happen to store the set differently than other years?

Perhaps while waiting for weaker springs perhaps run with only 1 wiper-ed axle per car and possibly some flicker but at least keep the train in service for this season.

Is it possible heat (from attic) distorted truck side frames?  Are those brass axle bushings?  Looks like you could take a side frame off and inspect. Those plungers should not be the issue.   G

stan2004 posted:

So 8 free-spinning axles, 8 with wipers.  If you flick the free-spinning axles do they all spin down after roughly the same # of revs?  In other words, can those be ruled out as an issue?

If you manually launch individual cars down the track, do they all roll the same distance?

Hard to imagine how all 4 cars would simultaneously go south in 2016.  Since you've been running this set for many years did you happen to store the set differently than other years?

Perhaps while waiting for weaker springs perhaps run with only 1 wiper-ed axle per car and possibly some flicker but at least keep the train in service for this season.

 

I don't think it was really simultaneous.  Guessing the drag has been increasing as it seems each year to maintain the same speed, I turn the throttle up a little higher, come to think of it.

They axles with the wipers don't even go one revolution when I spin them manually.  I'll see which goes the farthest on each car and remove the other. 

GGG posted:

Is it possible heat (from attic) distorted truck side frames?  Are those brass axle bushings?  Looks like you could take a side frame off and inspect. Those plungers should not be the issue.   G

Stored in the basement every year, and it isn't heated.  It doesn't get too cold in the winter and not too hot in the summers.  But I'm in Connecticut and summer humidity could be a factor?  I'm not the most technically savvy guy for these things as I haven't yet done any work on our trains - what is a side frame and how do I remove it?  Is it the outer fascia of the wheel trucks or ...?  I don't see any screws to take it off. 

If it has high rolling resistance, but only with the axles with the wipers, it would seem to me that the wipers are the top suspects.  At the very least, I'd take one off and open it up to see if something has deteriorated.  Have you tried conductive grease on the wiping surface of the wheel?

It may just be the angle the way the picture was taken. but if you align the axle to the brush assembly you will see that they are not parallel. if they are not parallel the brush maybe hitting the wheel on a angle, thus force applied to a smaller area will increase. That why women's high heels leave marks on linoleum rather than a regular she. Just a thought, small area more pressure.
As stated above they truck might of warped slightly due to attic heat?

Before you go and do any mods to the cars try a little electrical lube.  Wahl oil is for lubricating electric hair clippers etc.  It is available at the local beauty supply store, cheap.  A drop per axle is all that is required.  I also put a drop on each rail for much improved electrical pickup.  Russ

 BTW I just checked it is also avail at Wally World!  

PJB posted:

...what is a side frame and how do I remove it?  Is it the outer fascia of the wheel trucks or ...?  I don't see any screws to take it off. 

I'm guessing it's just these screws (circled) holding the side-frames (scribbled outline).  In which case it seems the axles would just fall out and you can inspect the bearings for gunk build-up or whatever.

If you have been gradually moving up the throttle each year, I wonder if the engine also deserves inspection, lubing, whatever.

It also looks like they aren't perpendicular to the wheel set.

I would try getting them to sit at a perfect 90° to the wheels, as well as removing the pickup for a test to see if that's the issue at all. Rounding or chamfering the contact tips might help too.

Check the plastic surface that acts as the axle bearings. Clean the loco wheels and track to rule out oils, and throw some test weight on top of the loco too.

My G's weren't lit. I removed the roof screws so I could take the tops off at will and toss in some cheap $1 store solar LED garden lights for pathways.

Going to batteries is another option. Even craft stores might have battery clips for a 9v holiday quick fix. An RC hobby shop or electronic supply for sure.

I wrote that before I fell asleep. Seems most was covered while I napped.

Oh well, good luck, & Merry Christmas.

Just checked them all, and it is the camera angle or whatever. The wipers are perpendicular and track perfectly along the inside of the wheels.  The amount of "free-ness" to the wheels with the wipers when I hand spin, however, is a one-quarter rotation. The other (non wiper) wheels go around between once and one and one-half revolutions.  I'm wiped so will take these things apart tomorrow and report back. 

Thanks so far for the advice. 

Peter