I recently purchased a new Atlas RS-1 Loco which I seem to be having operational problems with. Right out of the box the performance has been erratic. I suspect an electrical contact problem as the loco stalls on almost all sections of my layout. I’ve cleaned the track, the loco’s wheels and checked my other electrical connections to the power pack etc. This is a DC power system and my other motive power all seem to run OK. Anyone have any ideas I can try to remedy the situation before I have to send it back to Atlas? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
I’ve had a similar problem with a few Atlas engines. It could be a couple different problems …
Dis-assemble the trucks and check for lubrication that has leached onto the axle stubs that protrude through the brass pick-up bar. Clean both the axle stubs and the insides of the brass bar. The excessive lubrication can act as an insulator within those journals.
Also check the wire connections on that same brass pick-up bar and also to the circuit board. Those little black plastic clips will sometimes not make a tight connection if the wire has gotten skewed. To ensure good connectivity, I toss the plastic clips and solder all those connections.
Mark.
FIRST eliminate dirty wheels. SECOND read any instructions,THIRD is the lighting board. (DC) . I bet if you test-wire directly to the motor the problem will go away.
Cold solder joints are common. Try re-soldering all circuit board connections.
Beyond that, contact to Atlas.
If it’s new, send it back before you open it up, mess with the solder joints and void the warranty.[2c]
Thanks for the tips!
One critical question.
Is it the HO or the O scale (2 rail) RS-1? If it’s the O scale, is it the 2 rail TMCC version? They DO NOT like DC current.