Help with orient express.

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neatrich

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I have just received 70685 orient express, the wheels were quite dirty, I have given them a good clean including the back rim for the pickups. But the mallet loco still has lack of momentum, with a with a jerky movement, the lights and sound work fine any ideas of what could be up?


Thanks Richard
 
More than likely the Wheel Gears are out of sink in the Chassis. Look at each wheel on each bogie on one side, are the weights all level? There may be only a Spoke of difference but it makes for lumpy running. Remove the wheel holders if it is this and gently move the offending axle to be the same. May only be one or two cogs on the gear that are out. Screw back up and check the other bogie. Let us know how you get on please.
JonD
 
Had the same problem with my SEG Mallet. Previous owner had greased axles and killed the contact to 1 motor. Easy fix. Working on 1 side and 1 wheel set at a time, remove Cranks and Rods. The wheels are retain on the axle by a screw. Undo 1 screw, lift off the wheel ( remember the carbon contact has a spring behind it, don't ask how I know this :oops: ) . Remove brass contact housing and clean all parts or replace ( I had to replace :blush: ). Refit the wheel, checking alignement. Repeat for the other 2 wheels then the other 3 wheel sets. This also provides the opportunity to clean the everything behind the wheels thoroughly.

Hope this helps

Alex
 
Lets see it running on a rolling road so we can see if both trucks are doing this dance.

Mind you IF one stalls then that will steal the power to the other one

I had real issues with my Mallet all solved with a BIG overhaul of both drive trucks.

IF or when you take off the wheels ease them off carefully and be ready to catch the pick ups inside the wheels. I did not remove my wheels from their axles just put the loco on its back in its box and used that to maintain and contain the loco upside down so I could get at both trucks and strip and clean them.

For real dirt that wont come off with some good cleaner I used the corner of a LGB track cleaning pad, worked a treat.

here is the video of my Mallet misbehaving


AND my thread with pictures 'elsewhere;

http://forums.mylargescale.com/29-beginner-s-forum/82682-lgb-2085d-2-a.html#post1081938
 
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I suggest starting with what Dunnyrail said - check the quartering. It looks like one of the gears is one cog out. Following that, I would suspect a motor as Alex says. You can get the front motor flushed with smoke oil on these locos and too much grease is not wanted either.
 
Having taken mine apart UNLESS someone has been in there I cant see how the gears could jump to get one tooth out of sync
 
I would clean treads and backs of wheels..
Then check the brushes (which rub on back of wheels) are not sticking in their holders..
Then look closely to see that the wheels are quartered correctly.

Only then would I whip the bottom off the front motor-block.. If there is evidence of lots of 'oil' everywhere, then the motor has possibly been flooded with smoke-oil.

If you have a bench PSU, with ammeter, how much current does the loco pull? - Turn OFF lights, smoke, and sound for this.
You *can* get a rough idea o current from some Central Stations (Massoth for example).
 
Definitely the behaviour of a loco with something out of quarter or rods catching, you can see it binding once per revolution of the wheels. As has been suggested, run it on rollers or even just upside down in your lap with a pair of wires to the wheels, that should reveal where the problem lies.
 
Got a photo of the wheels? Both sides?

Then we can confirm if the quartering is out....
 
After quartering and a video. Thank you all for your help with my 1st lgb fix. Very happy.

 

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You dont need to get it spotless. A dig out with a match stick will do - then add a TINY amount of plastic compatible grease (the LGB white tube is good, I find the Bachmann stuff not so good - too watery) to the gear teeth. The motion will soon spread it around.Too much grease gets in the motor and mucks them up.
 
I am using a 1a 50080 at the moment, thinking of putting a massoth xls sound decoder in, so I can use with my 50110 transformer and 55006p Central Station.
 
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