Stainz running slow

Mobi

Mobi

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I have moved house and in new house after laying a small layout, I disovered that my Stainz is running very slowly!

Below 2, it is not even moving (without any rolling stock). It barely moves at 2.5 and moves slowly with 3 wagons at 3 and even at 4 it is not running very fast.

The track is fairly level. When I run my battery operated Playmobil loco, it is running fine with 3-4 wagons.

I checked the track voltage with multi-meter and max voltage is showing 19 V which I think as expected.

However, as I drag along multimeter needles along the track, I see voltage is changing a lot like between 6-19 V.

I have never tested with multimeter before so not sure if this is what expected.

What may be the issue? My Stainz loco is less than 2 years old and was not used very much.

:-[
 
Would help if we knew what controller you are running? - Would guess LGB analogue, centre-off??

Presuming analogue.. Clean wheels (flange-area). Clean backs of wheels where carbon brushes rub. Move axles to left/right. - Is there an air-gap to the brushes when you do this? If so, stuck / worn brushes. How filthy are is the loco? - Muck and grease/oil turned to a thick, viscous paste?

It may just need running-in for a while to free it up.

Others will be along in a minute.. ;)
 
Yes, it is traditional analog controller. I shall trying cleaning and see if it works better.
 
Mobi said:
Yes, it is traditional analog controller. I shall trying cleaning and see if it works better.
Click to expand...
If you have not, then give the track a rub over with a cleaning block, and then an old duster (which will probably end up black, so get permission from domestic authorities before using it!). - Don't ask!! ::)
 
It's not necessarily the loco (though obviously that's the first thing to suspect). Could be a bad track joint or wiring joint, which can mean that you still see the full voltage on your multimeter when there's no other load, but the bad joint causes a high resistance to current flow and causes slow running.

Do you have any other track powered locos? Do they run as expected?
 
The other thing to try with your Stainz or any other Loco for that matter is to put the loco on a couple of blocks of wood so that the Wheels are not touching the Track. Then use a couple of pieces of wire to check the running by touching these wires to the Pick Up Skates. Better still if you can use small crockodile clips for the job.

If running appears to be good at all speed levels, then as suggested your Track Joints could be the problem. Should that be so, gently tighten up the Fishplates with some pliers so that the Rail is a tighter fit. Cleaning the Rail at the joints will help too.

Finally if you have any use some of the LGB Glug(Graphite Paste LGB Ref 51010) on all your joints.
JonD
 
Obviously, use the paste AFTER you have cleaned the rail-end / squeezed the joiner..
(Egg-sucking probably..) ;) ;)
 
I won't be able to test it again before the weekend ::)

I have already checked the loco by directly touching the connection screws (while wheels not touching anywhere) and it seems to run fine.

I have not cleaned the track for ages and last 3 months tracks were stored in garage. So will try with track cleaning first.

Unfortunately I don't have any other track powered loco. In fact, I only have 2 - the Stainz and Playmobil 5258.

Don't want to stir up a debate on track power vs battery, but I find battery loco is so much easier to deal with. ;D

Shame that Roundhouse battery locos are so pricey! I fancy the Little John but the price seems too steep for which looks worse then Playmobil loco!
 
Mobi said:
Shame that Roundhouse battery locos are so pricey! I fancy the Little John but the price seems too steep for which looks worse then Playmobil loco!
Click to expand...

You could always make your own or convert a track powered loco to battery. I know there are a few on here who have converted a Stainz to battery power. It's not too difficult once you have found somewhere for the batteries.

Rik
 
ge_rik said:
You could always make your own or convert a track powered loco to battery. I know there are a few on here who have converted a Stainz to battery power. It's
ge_rik said:
You could always make your own or convert a track powered loco to battery. I know there are a few on here who have converted a Stainz to battery power. It's not too difficult once you have found somewhere for the batteries.

Rik
Click to expand...

Stainz are even easier to convert to battery if you use a battery wagon! Makes it quite easy, but that's the subject of a whole different thread.

Dan
Click to expand...
 
Mobi said:
Shame that Roundhouse battery locos are so pricey! I fancy the Little John but the price seems too steep for which looks worse then Playmobil loco!
Click to expand...

Yes, but the Roundhouse will probably last much longer.
 
Just before darkness, I managed to clean the track with scrotchbrite.

Now it is running again like a rocket. :o

I ran without any rolling stock - the metal wheels cleaned the track even better. Wish I had metal wheels in my wagons :-\
 
Mobi said:
Wish I had metal wheels in my wagons
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Like many people here I long ago took the plunge and bought metal wheelsets for all my carriages and wagons, although initially expensive as I had quite a bit of stock I never regretted the decision and all the stock I bought afterwards was converted straight away. I used the Liliput wheels (Liliput is a European subsidiary of Bachmann) and was always happy with them. They also give a satisfying clickety-clack as they go over joins in the track.
 
pugwash said:
Like many people here I long ago took the plunge and bought metal wheelsets for all my carriages and wagons, although initially expensive as I had quite a bit of stock I never regretted the decision and all the stock I bought afterwards was converted straight away. I used the Liliput wheels (Liliput is a European subsidiary of Bachmann) and was always happy with them. They also give a satisfying clickety-clack as they go over joins in the track.
Click to expand...

I'll second Puggy's comment - metal wheelsets are a good investment, and the Bachmann/Liliput packs (same product in different packaging - both 4 axles to a pack for around fifteen quid if you shop around) are very good value - around half the price of LGB sets!

Jon.
 
I even partially funded my Bachmann Metal Wheels by flogging Plastic ones on EBay. Sometimes I was amazed at what people would pay. Most Big Garden Railway Shops sell Plastic ones dirt cheep. Power of EBay I suppose.
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
I even partially funded my Bachmann Metal Wheels by flogging Plastic ones on EBay. Sometimes I was amazed at what people would pay. Most Big Garden Railway Shops sell Plastic ones dirt cheep. Power of EBay I suppose.
JonD
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Always amazed how much things can go for on EvilBay.. ??? ::) :o

Number of times s/h track ends up going for same as can be got new, PLUS the carriage, amazes me.. Perhaps people want 'weathered' track??

**Though I have to admit, I have been as guilty as any, in buying for more than I should!! ::) ;)
 
Which metal wheels are best?

How about these ones?
http://www.grsuk.com/PG610_Wheels_Stainless_Steel_30.5mm_3mm_Axle_45mm-M2786

My stocks are mostly Playmobil and LGB. I measured wheel dia and they are ~30 mm.

Are these wheels insulated?
 
Mobi said:
Which metal wheels are best?

How about these ones?
http://www.grsuk.com/PG610_Wheels_Stainless_Steel_30.5mm_3mm_Axle_45mm-M2786

My stocks are mostly Playmobil and LGB. I measured wheel dia and they are ~30 mm.

Are these wheels insulated?
Click to expand...

Those should be fine, and yes, I'm pretty sure they are insulated (they look like they've got plastic bushes where the wheels meet the axle) - though at £5 an axle they are still a little more expensive that the Bachmann ones here:
http://www.grsuk.com/Wheels_Metal_Ins._31.00mm_dia_4_off-M5298
at £16.43 for a pack of four axles.
Any similar wheelsets should all fit LGB, Playmobil, Piko, Newqida and most other stock.

Jon.
 
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