controller issue. Overland, limited 4-8-4 trian set

[java]

My son just got this set for Xmas, I set it up for him the train operates as per it should. The issues is the controller, the train will start to move at 60% up to 100% (seems slow at 100%) but nothing will happen below 60%, Guess m question is, is this normal?

Thanks for your respones...Chuck

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Java,

Sounds like a nice set. 

Your symptoms are not normal. 

Have you lubed you loco with plastic compatible oils and grease? 

Labelle lubes are good.  I own #'s 102, 106 and 108. 

Bachmann lubes are good too, though it might take some searching to find them..

Could be a bad controller.  Measure the voltage at the track:

1.) with no engine and the controller to full.
2.) near the controller with the engine running.
3.) far away from the controller with the engine running.

You could try your loco on another layout with known good controller...

Let us know your results. 

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik 

[java]

Will post on those suggestions tommorow night son and I will do the test together after I get home from work..

Thank you

[jbsmith]

I got the same set.
At first the performance was bad enough that i thought of returning the product!
First Clean the Tracks with alcohol or Goo-Gone. Just use an old T-shirt
for a cleaning rag. Clean the Locos wheels too.
You should notice a difference right away.
You will have to do this a number of times while breaking the set in.
You will be suprised,,just because those steel tracks LOOK clean does
not mean they are.

As far as the powerpack goes,,it has just enough power out put to make
the loco go and that's about it,,it is an entry level starter power pack at best
so don't expect much,,it serves its purpose. 
To answer your question,had to turn the dial to about 45-50% before anything would happen after cleaning,mine did the same thing you described.

I bought an MRC Tech4 Model260 power pack,,,and man What a Difference!
Train runs much better with the MRC,,you just need to do some minor
wire modification at the power pack end of the wires to connect it.

Once you get past the break in stage and have a more powerfull controller,
the train runs really sweet!

One more tip,,,DO NOT use the smoke during break in, I learned that the
hard way. Had to constantly clean the tracks.  Once the breaking in is done,
then smoke is ok to use if you choose to do so.

[java]

Dear Java,

Sounds like a nice set. 

Your symptoms are not normal. 

Have you lubed you loco with plastic compatible oils and grease? 

Labelle lubes are good.  I own #'s 102, 106 and 108. 

Bachmann lubes are good too, though it might take some searching to find them..

Could be a bad controller.  Measure the voltage at the track:

1.) with no engine and the controller to full.
2.) near the controller with the engine running.
3.) far away from the controller with the engine running.

You could try your loco on another layout with known good controller...

Let us know your results. 

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik 

Here is the reading I got....

1:)  20.5 vdc
2:)  14.3 vdc
3:)  14.3 vdc

[Joe Satnik]

At 12 volts an HO scale engine should be running full speed. 

Next troubleshooting step is to clean your tracks and wheels.

Let us know if it helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik