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#Post#: 2082--------------------------------------------------
Transformer, track or loco?
By: Overthetop95 Date: January 20, 2019, 12:12 am
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Hello to all,
New to the forum, I recently obtained a Lionel O gauge Santa
Fe set and have some issues! The set is a 2009 JCPenny starter
set with the world famous 4-4-2 Locomotive with air whistle
tender, it is new enough it has fastrak. It has the 40W
transformer with the DIRECTION, WHISTLE, BELL buttons. It runs
BUT:
-Headlight flickers 80% of the time but will stay consistent for
probably 20% of the run time.
-Smoke unit works when wants to
-Whistle only works when it wants to
-Engine works but sometimes, after running for a while, fails to
restart as power is increased on transformer (just like
neutral)
-Bell doesn’t work, if this model even has a bell!
-Engine buzzes terribly (not sure if all these 4-4-2’s do this
or not?)
-Direction command only works when it wants to!
-Sometimes after a stop and a failure to restart, the loco will
eventually start in the opposite direction without user ever
hitting the direction button
-Tested my 2016 0-8-0 Lionchief Pennsylvania Flyer on the track
using the transformer at full throttle, like Lionel website
states, 0-8-0 runs good BUT loses power sometimes- both while
running and stopped (it loses idle sound and headlight!)
The 2016 set was my first ever O gauge and I fell in love with O
gauge (namely Lionel!) over the more common HO I was raised on.
I don’t have a clue where to start so any help is much
appreciated! Track looks well used BUT clean in my opinion. The
Santa Fe Set appears to have been adult-owned (not abused and
repacked in it’s original packaging).
Thanks in advanced!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 2084--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: TrainLarry Date: January 20, 2019, 11:22 am
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Welcome to the forum!
First thing to do is to take apart the track and clean it with
Naphtha dabbed on a rag. When that is done, gently bend the pins
on the end of the tracks so they make a tight fit when pushed
together.
Next get some Q-tips, dip them in the Naphtha, and clean all the
wheels of all your engines and rolling stock. Clean all the
engine, tender and any operating cars roller pick-ups also.
Once this is done, any issues with the engine can be taken care
of, but you must have clean track first.
The 40 watt transformer is rather small. Upgrade to at least an
80 watt CW-80 or higher wattage transformer.
Larry
#Post#: 2086--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: Overthetop95 Date: January 20, 2019, 2:36 pm
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Thanks Larry,
I have to ask, what is Naphtha? Is that the laundry bar???
You make a paste and scrub?Or is this a solvent like Acetone?
Also, I bought this kit thinking it was the 80 watt transformer
so guess I’m still in the market for one of those... thanks
again for your help!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 2087--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: TrainLarry Date: January 20, 2019, 2:51 pm
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Naphtha is a solvent that is excellent in cleaning off dirt, oil
and grease. It does not attack plastics. It is available at
hardware stores.
Acetone is also a solvent, but it will attack and melt many
plastics, including those used to make our trains. It will also
dissolve the shellac insulation used on motor windings.
Some people use isopropyl alcohol for cleaning, but beware that
it will also attack some plastics and paint, and it will also
dissolve the shellac insulation used on motor windings.
I use Naphtha exclusively, and don't need anything else.
Larry
#Post#: 2088--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: Overthetop95 Date: January 20, 2019, 5:04 pm
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Great tip Larry! This is what I needed to begin the process!
I’ll be hunting down Naphtha tomorrow!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 2090--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: Overthetop95 Date: January 22, 2019, 7:12 am
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Ok guys, found me some Naphtha at Lowe’s yesterday but didn’t
have time to sit down and clean my track yet. I have a Lionel
flatcar I picked up in a flea market for $12! But it’s got light
surface rust on the wheels and axles. So two questions here: (1)
do you use a rag only with the Naphtha or can you use it with
steel wool or a scour pad??? (2) steel wool or scour pad for
model railroad service??? I heard steel wool is bad for
everything: motors, gears, trucks etc due to the little steel
fibers that come off during use???
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 2091--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: TrainLarry Date: January 22, 2019, 12:43 pm
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You can clean everything, including the rails, wheels and axles
with a ScotchBrite pad to get off surface dirt and rust. Then go
over everything with a rag soaked in Naphtha to clean off all
the gunk.
Do NOT ever use steel wool, as it sheds and can cause
untraceable shorts, as well as get picked up inside of
magnetized trucks and motors.
Larry
#Post#: 2092--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: Overthetop95 Date: January 22, 2019, 4:14 pm
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Thanks again Larry! I’ll try the scour pad and follow up with a
rag! Sorry for all the questions; I’m just clueless about caring
for these trains the proper way. I’d like to make them last a
lifetime, if at all possible!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 2093--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformer, track or loco?
By: TrainLarry Date: January 22, 2019, 9:13 pm
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You are welcome.
With proper care and maintenance, your trains can last a
lifetime. Once all the cleaning and lubing is done, your trains
should run like new.
Do not be afraid to ask questions; that is how we learn.
Larry
#Post#: 2094--------------------------------------------------
Transformer, track or loco?
By: Overthetop95 Date: January 27, 2019, 11:00 pm
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Well everyone, I have a new rule of thumb! “If it looks clean,
it isn’t!” I don’t care how good you think it looks, that white
rag and some Naphtha will tell all! I wiped so much gunk off the
track and wheels of my train that I probably could have rung out
the rags and made a great weathering paint with it! Just rag
after rag of carbon colored gunk! From track, wheels, & rollers
that appeared to be very clean! I started with the track,
cleaned and cleaned until my rag didn’t turn color anymore! Next
I cleaned the locomotive and the tender, followed by ALL the
wheels on the rolling stock (all non-powered but why run dirty
wheels on clean track; Like jumping in a clean car with muddy
boots!) So with everything cleaned, my smoke unit is working
correctly! Surprised me because I wanted to suspect the bellow
for the lack of smoke! The headlight still flickers but not as
much, the buzzing has quietened but still loud to me. I am still
having trouble with the whistle tender working when it wants to
and seems quieter when it does run now? Also, after running the
loco enough to get the smoke unit up to operating temp, the loco
won’t start back after a complete stop, sometimes starting back
in the wrong direction and if you come back to stop, immediately
going back up on the throttle, she’ll change direction again
without ever touching the direction command! I’ve taking the
body off the tender and the loco; although I’m a beginner with O
gauge, I didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. All wiring
and connections appear to be in good shape visually. No
corrosion or frayed wires. At this point, I suspect it’s my
transformer and my 2016 set is a Lionchief so I don’t have
another transformer to test with. Also, this set doesn’t have
the bell! Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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