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Atlas HO scale track cleaning car
Can’t get the motor to work. Not very happy with it at this time. will try to make it work with a different decoder.
It would be nice to have one of these cars that would actualy work as good as we expect. This sounds like a start, I really need one that will polish the track especially in the hard to reach places. I might give it a try.
I installed an NCE decoder in mjne using the 8 pin plug. It works well in vacuum mode but with the polishing heads it will only operate at very low speeds. When turned up to higher speeds it will operate for a few seconds and then shuts down. Used in vacuum mode in combination with a couple Walthers abrasive cleaning cars it may have some value but overall this is the first Atlas product that has disappointed me.
I have no experience with H O scole, but I know of people who have them in N scale, and they come separately, Vacuum in one, cleaner in another, you need two units, but both work well.
I bought it for the vac’, never intended to use the other bits and I do not want my money back thank you very much. Truly amazing what this thing will pick up. Sure it needs to be pulled slow around the layout when operating, then the 1:1 track maintenance vehicles I have seen crawl along whilst doing track work.
I plugged in a standard, basic decoder and it worked fine.
Direction controls the direction of rotation of the fan blades or polishing wheels. Speed controls the speed of rotation. That’s all that can be controlled. The unit must be operated at low speed else the motor will over-heat and shut down. This is a safety feature and you can start again after the unit cools down.
In my opinion, the vacuum function is the most useful. And it works great.
As a matter of interest, Atlas licenses the unit from Dapol, UK. If the body looks a little large, it’s because the unit is British 00 gauge (1:76, about 10% larger than HO, 1:87). I believe that Dapol got the technology from Kato, Japan which did (does?) an N gauge version.
I have not had any problems with the unit. It vacuums like a champ, the track cleaner works great when in lower speeds, but then why does anyone want to go fast when you are relaxing with your model railroad?
I purchased this car and installed a Digitrax DZ125PS decoder with no problems. If there is a problem with the circuit board, it a was not apparent with my unit. No orientation of the DCC plug is provided so installation is trial and error to get it installed correctly (if the motor doesn’t run, the decoder is probably backwards or it has been addressed incorrectly). Also, no cleaning solution is recommended – using Goo Gone provides good results. After cleaning, noticable improved operation is apparent. This is a great product to get all your track cleaned, polished, and vacuumed.
Had to install fixed, body-mount couplers since the unit would derail when pushed with the Talgo coupler arrangement. Motor stopped at one point and I had to pull the motor out and resolder a connection. Motor looks awfully cheap for a $100+ purchase. When working, it’s great.
As most everyone else has said the vacuum works great, the polishing head feature leaves a little bit to be desired. It works but frequently shuts down, usually when it’s in an out of the way location that needs the most attention.
Using Digitrax DZ125PS. The motor seems to run very intermittently. While standing still, the motor stops and starts with the slightest touch on either side of the top of the body. It also stops and starts as soon as it begins to move. Appears to be poor contact between the springs on the trucks and the plate they touch. Tried expanding the springs a little but still acts the same. That seems to be a weak point. I think a u shaped phospher bronze piece on the truck riding against the plate would be better. If expanding the springs again does not fix the problem I intend to return it.
My experience with this car is not so good. It does not run reliably at all in cleaning or polishing modes - shutting down or stalling over almost every turnout (mine are smooth). Of course then it shuts down right where needed most - in those ‘hard-to-reach’ locations.
Most of these ‘track-cleaner’ cars are more trouble than they are worth - and this is no exception. Satisfactory track cleaning depends on a solution like John Allen’s, or better, on plain old elbow grease.
The $100 for this item is a pure ripoff - as it is for most similar ‘cleaning’ cars. Cut a piece of rough-sided masonite (a-la John Allen), epoxy on a couple of nails, and sling it under a boxcar. Even so, you will still need cleaning with a handheld abrasive ‘eraser’-type block - or emery cloth - on occasion.
I have the same problem with the decoder board not wired properly. I’m surprised Atlas hasn’t made a fix, this is not up to their standards.
I hve had my car for 6 months. I have a neighbor who is president of a local model rr club who recommended this unit and showed me how to use it. So happy not to be disturbing my trackside landscaping with my big hands using a CRATEX block. No slow down in tunnel and other hard to reach places after using this Atlas car. Worth the money as are all Atlas products.
I’ve just bought my own personal Atlas Track cleaning car and installed a Soundtraxx micro scale 8-pin decoder and it works GREAT!!!
new to ho, what are alternative cars that work?
does it work with DC?