Currently wiring new layout with dual track and ran into problems with loco hesitating or refusing to run. Wired a reverse loop first thinking it would be the hardiest to deal with and the loco ran well. Then wired the main and the problems started. Guessing that dirty track or dirty wheels were the problem so I cleaned both. No change. I can apply a little pressure to the loco and it will move a little but again stops. Any comments or solutions would be grateful.

Paul Risell

-- Paul Risell (paulr@olg.com), February 04, 2005

Answers

Paul,

Do you have a Digitrax system? I don't know about other manufacturers, but the problem you describe is possible with a Digitrax system. It's not your wiring if my hunch is correct. You have more than 1 "slot" in the command station assigned to your locomotive. One slot is telling it to go and another is telling it to stop. See your Digitrax command station manual on how to clear the slots. Another clue that it is slots is if your headlight is on even when your locomotive is not going anywhere. That will vindicate dirty track.

Another reason your locomotive is operating erratically would be due to wiring. Very poor wiring technique can distort a DCC signal so bad that the locomotive cannot interpret it correctly. The fact that you had things working at first makes me think this isn't your problem. Just to be sure, go back to the wiring configuration you had before your problem developed.

If anyone else has any ideas, please chime in.

-- Allan Gartner (wire4dcc_admin@comcast.net), February 04, 2005.

Hi Paul.

After cleaning wheels and track, try another loco. Try a 12 wheel diesel. Steam engines are nortorious for bad pickup from the wheels, so fit extra pickups for the decoder, red and black wires. Did the loco run ok on DC?

If you have 2 throttles plugged into your system, maybe both throttles are selected to the same loco.

Make sure the you have set 28/128 speed steps for the decoder and not 14 speed steps. Some loco/decoders play up when set to 14 speed steps.

Marcus

-- Marcus Ammann (mammann@optusnet.com.au), February 05, 2005.