I have a Proto 2000 N scale GP-60 that is hesitant on one area of my layout. It’s close to a set of feeder wires, so I don’t know what the problem is. It has eight-wheel pickup, but it sometimes hesitates on this one portion of the layout (within 8" of the set of feeder wires).
What could be the problem? I’ve tried cleaning the track where the problem area is on the top of the rail, but nothing really changes. Do I need another set of feeder wires there?
The SD-40 that I have doesn’t really have a problem on that portion of the layout, although sometimes it does hesitate there.
Of course, check all the electrical connections first. Then clean that portion of track well. After that, if only the one loco hesitates at that portion of track, well, some locos are more sensitive than others. There may be a bump or other small imperfection at that spot (solder on the rail?) and that one loco is affected first. Or, that loco may have a pick-up problem.
I have a KATO SD38-2 that cuts out at certain locations(usually one or two switches) before all others. That’s when I know to clean the switch. The KATO SD40-2 doesn’t cut out anywhere and they are very close to the same engine, mechanically.
I haven’t soldered my rails together. I want a certain amount of flex and temperature variation in my layout, not to mention that I take it a lot of places.
The problem area is about two inches after a left-hand turnout. I think I might try to solder another set of feeder wires to the rails to see if they fixes the problem.
My SD-40 usually doesn’t have a problem with that area, but every once in a while it might slow down at that spot.
I had a Proto HO scale GP38-2 that did the exact same thing. it was the only engine to do it in this spot. It was a straight section of track with feeder wire right below. I tested power and it was present. To this day I dont know why it did this but with all the other problems with this and other Protos they went down the road and to this day no other locomotive has stalled in that spot. [:D]
GP-60 & SD-40 OR SD-60 & GP-40 ?? 'SD’s generally have 6 wheels per truck and recqire more generous curves. If not …
I suspct the frog connection is bad. Check the internal rails coming from the turnout. You didn’t mention the type or make of turnout. It could be a lack of elect. pickup going through through the frog - with that one engine. The electrical pickup on the GP-60 may be better, but if there is “hesitation”, smething is amiss.
There’s part of your problem. Never depend on rail joiners alone. I solder all my track joints. You don’t have to solder all your joints but do enough thatyou can take the track out in sections if you move it.
Get your meter out and check the section. If you don’t want to solder, then squeeze the connectors to make a better connection. I would check all the sections to be sure. I had that happen once with some temporary track with 2 bad/loose joiners that caused a 2’ section of track to be dead.
Try resting only the front truck then only the rear truck on a good section of track to see if you may not be getting power from a truck. (I had that happen with a NIB Atlas loco at a turnout where the powered truck lifted a little and the non-powered truck had no electrical pick up). It seems pretty sure that your wheels are clean.
There may be a short as that loco hits just the right spot to short out…sounds like a long shot as I didn’t hear you say that your system would reset if DCC, but it happened with a loco of mine also and that was the problem.
Does it do the same thing when running in the same firection but reversed?