I need help. I have a Rivarossi 4-6-2 pacific N-scale steam locomotive that does not run. I have been trying to fix it. I have no idea what I am doing though.
If you don’t know what your doing, then I recommend taking it to a hobby shop that does repairs.
We need more info that that. What happens? What have you tried?
The loco was a gift to me. I am new to the hobby. When the loco is on the track with the power on it just sparks. It doesn’t get anything from the tender because the wire that runs along the tongue is gone. I have no clue how old the loco is.
steam1522, there are dozens of forum members here who would just love to help you get your loke running again; troubleshooting a loke while examining it in person is difficult at the least; troubleshooting a problem you describe on the forum is going to be practically impossible.
I can perhaps understand a missing wire connecting tender and engine causing an engine not to run but when you say “sparking” you’ve gone completely over my head.
I don’t know about the sparking, but I think the rivarossi’s were wired similar to brass locomotives. There is a pickup on one side of the of the locomotive, and a tender pick up, on the opposite side. If the wire is broken, you aren’t getting power to the motor. If your tender trucks have swiveled 180º then you may be shorting the locomotive, rotate the tender trucks 180º first…
Do you have any other locos that run? What kind?
Do you have a track? What type of power and track?
Where exactly does it spark?
Is it possible that the tender lead is shorting out?
Rotor
Steam–
I’ll take a shot, because my late father had the same N-scale locomotive. First of all, you NEED that little wire spring in the drawbar, because that’s what provides the solid pick-up connection from the loco to the tender. I’d suggest using .008 guitar wire cut to length and soldered onto the drawbar (you can get it at your local music store–it’s made by Ernie Ball).
Now,as to the sparking, it sounds as if one of the tender trucks might have swiveled around and is shorting out. The insulated wheels have to be on the left (fireman’s) side of the tender. Current is picked up from the right side of the tender and the left side of the locomotive. The older N-scale Rivarossi steamers picked up current the same way brass locos do–from one side of the locomotive and the opposite side of the tender.
Hope this helps.
Tom [:)]
In answer to your questions, I have two other locos that run. One is an older life-like diesel. The other is a new bachmann 0-6-0 steam loco. My power is a Railpower 1300 DC power pack. The loco that I am having problems with, sparks from the front of the loco to underneath the cab. The loco is not getting anything from the tender. I have to fix that wire that runs along the drawbar.
Sounds like the pickups are okay, but either the mechanism or the motor itself may be jammed or gummed up etc. If you’re getting sparks, you’ve got contact.
-George
Is there anything I could do to free the motor? I checked the tender. The insulated wheels are on the left side.
I fixed the wire that runs along the drawbar. The loco stopped sparking, but it still does not move.
If you’re getting sparks without the tender being connected electrically, there’s a bigger problem somewhere else. I’m not familiar enough with this drive to be able to guess what, though. If the engine wheels only pick up from one side, and there’s no connection to the tender to complete the circuit, then you’ve got something in the engine making contact that shouldn’t be, and that’s creating the short.
Sounds like it needs have some surgery to see what’s going on in there…
Lee
I am beginning to wonder if it would be easier to get a new loco.
Yes, yes it would be…and you will be MUCH better off.
David B