ez command DCC speed control issue

[bsmith7718]

It seems as though I need to turn to speed dial almost half way around just to get the loco to move.  I only have a 4x8 layout and never run more than 2 locos at once.  Is this a power problem, installation problem?  Anyone else have this happen?

Please help.

[ABC]

Put a couple extra feeders evenly, so that you get better performance. Clean your track and the wheels of all your locos and rolling stock for better conduction. Clean and lube the motor and gears. Change the speed table CVs with a friends controller that can program CVs. Buy better locos and they will run better.

[Jim Banner]

Some locomotives need a fair amount of power applied before they will run.  This is particularly true of dc locomotives run on DCC.  So first question - (1) do your locomotives have decoders installed?

If you are having a problem with dirty rails and/or locomotive wheels, the headlight will blink.  No blink, no need to clean your track or wheels.  Second question - (2) do your headlights blink when running your trains?

Mention of cleaning and lubricating begs the third question - (3) when was the last time you lubricated your locomotives?  And did you use plastic compatible oils and greases to do so?

Trying to change speed table CVs will be very frustrating for you if your decoder does not support them or if the speed table is not selected.  To help advise you what to do in terms of programming, the fourth question - (4) what decoders are in your locomotives (brand and type) and who installed them (you, a friend, the factory or??)

A less obvious question, perhaps, but an important one none the less - (5) did you locomotives run better at some former time and are now requiring more throttle or have they always run this way?  To put that another way, have there been changes in the way they run, and if so, what are the changes?

Buying better locomotives may not be an option, particularly if you already have the very best.  But it would help us answer your questions if we knew what locomotive you have.  I bet you can already guess what the sixth question is - (6) what locomotives do you have (manufacturer and part number would help) and what is their history (came new in a train set, bought new from a hobby shop, bought used off eBay, found in a gutter during a monsoon or ??)

Please help us to help you.

Jim

[ABC]

Surely he found them in a gutter during a monsoon. What a stupid question Jim, that's obviously where everyone gets their trains. Where else could you possibly look it's not like there is any chance your Local Hobby Shop (entitled Smith's Trains) will have anything remotely close to what you want, they will probably only have arts & crafts items. Plus you can't beat the price of finding them in your gutter during a monsoon (free). (Chuckling)
In fact just the other day I picked up a whole Genesis F7 A-B-B-A in the gutter during a monsoon. You'll be surprised what you'll find in your gutters -all sorts of great things.

True story...about 20 years ago when we moved into our new house...guess what was in the gutters...none other than an N scale Erie Lackawanna caboose, an N scale AC&Y boxcar, a Model Power 0-6-0T (couldn't make out a road) from the early 1970's, one piece of N scale track (rusty), a 1/64th scale Dukes of Hazard General Lee, and 2 Leslie cars a TV van and milk truck. What a great find!!! (Laughing)