Baffled by 2-8-2

[Irbricksceo]

Okay, so a while back i mentioned I was trying to find one of the SY 2-8-2's that had been out of production for a few years, well I found one. I just got it in the mail and, when i placed it on the oval of track I noticed it was very jerky, a big shudder happening at every revolution of the drivers. Still, it has been in the shrink-wrapped package for a while (since it was out of production years ago, and was still sealed) So I figured I'd do the breaking in and it should get better. Well, I was doing that, and had just gone to do the stop and start at a different speed. Stopped it, brought the power back to the rails and.... Nothing, it just sits there, no lights, no motor, Nada. Curious, I placed my 2-8-0 on the track instead and it ran fine, the weirdest part is yet to come, I placed BOTH on the track and nothing happens, lift the 2-8-2 off and the 2-8-0 starts right up. I have NO clue what could cause this, any ideas?

[Barney R]

The 2-8-2 is shorting out the system. it is probably something simple. Trucks turned around or such. Barney

[Irbricksceo]

It is certainly not the truck, update though, while sitting here, I touched the locomotive for a while, suddenly it started, moved around, then, when I brought it to a stop again, wouldnt start. So whatever it is, pressing the locomotive while dragging it back and forth sometimes gets it running. Before you say the track may be dirty, I assure you it is quite clear (plus the 2-8-0 wouldn't run were that the case. I agree with your short statement, that makes sense, but not the cause.

[jonathan]

First, check the tender/locomotive wire connection.  Many times, I seems like the plugs are fully seated when they really are not. To me, it sounds like a loose wire rather than a short. Just a guess.

Regards,

Jonathan

[Irbricksceo]

What you may not know is that on the SY, there are no plugs, the Drawbar and wires are permanent. While a loose wire may cause it, wouldn't it have to be a short to stop other locomotives? I am pondering if I should take the thing apart. One other thing I noticed, When i manage to get it moving again (which can take one minute or ten) the Light either flickers a bit or doesn't come on at all, also the thing still jerks like crazy. Whatever the issue, It is likely I have a bad one (I dont remember my last SY being bad at all, it was the best runner i had)

[Irbricksceo]

More evidence that it is a short, i noticed the Locomotive generating a lot of heat, the rods were actually hot enough that I could not touch them comfortably! Additionally, the moving around thing, while after a few minutes can get it to start in forwards, is useless in reverse for some reason.

[Stephen D. Richards]

In my mind you have a short!  Since the rods were heating up, logic would dictate that be the area of the short.  Without looking at the loco itself it would be hard to judge any corrective action.  Maybe check the wipers/pickups and see if they have bypassed an insulator somewhere.  Hope that helps,  Stephen

[Pacific Northern]

I would suggest that you take the superstructure off of the locomotive and inspect the gears. In the process you will end up separating the engine from the tender. Just remember the sequence as you take apart the locomotive.

I have seen couple of Bachmann engines that had so much excessive lube and that had dried while in storage.  When first placed on a test track the engines just stalled out. Also check the valve gear, can easily cause stalls if bent, easily fixed but needs checking as well.

These engines that had been in storage for a number of years. If they had not been stripped and cleaned they would not have run.

The SY engines are I think the best running engines I have ever seen in the Bachmann Spectrum line.

[Irbricksceo]

Alright, I'll see if i can figure out how to get the thing apart without damaging it. I would not be surprised if dried grease caused the stalling. But could it cause the short? If it is not what is causing, then I'll have to keep looking. currently, It has a runs maybe 55% of the time, and when it does it is jerky, squeaky, and only runs fast. Since my last SY was such a great runner, something is messed up in there! I'm going to look at the contact idea stephen had, if one of them is touching another, that could be it. I hope i can get it apart without destroying the whole thing...

[Irbricksceo]

By the way, if i have to clear out the grease in the gears, what do i put back in there? I have never lubricated the inside of a Loco, only the rods on the outside.

[GN.2-6-8-0]

LABELLES has a line of model railroad lubricants including grease for gearboxes

[richg]

I have used LaBelle 106 plastic compatible grease with PTFE.

Rich

[Irbricksceo]

Thanks, I'll look for that.