Well I got my new 2-10-2 today and I’m less than impressed with it. Seems to be jumping the rails on several turns, turns my BLI 2-10-4 can easily negotiate, seems to run S-L-O-W, half speed compared to the rest of the roster. Noticed both pilot and trailing truck is not spring loaded. Part of the problem was the tender wheels had “0” play in it. This has since been remedied.
I read the instructions and noticed it was a 28 speed decoder and am contemplating ripping it out and replacing it with a Digitrax 123.
I’m just curious if this is teething pains or did I get a lemon?
Fergie
Looks very nice though, one of the better finished ones.
I got my 2-10-2 in January, and I have noticed all of the things that you describe. Instead of reworking my track more I decided to shelve the locomotive for now until I have time to accurately diagnose the problems and fix them. I did not like the response of the decoder in it as well, and I will be replacing it with a spare DZ123 as well.
I will take a look at my tender wheels to see if they also have no play in them.
The work has already begun! Bye Bye bachmann decoder, and in with the 123DH. a bit better speed and less jumpy. Took the wheel base plate off then took a file to the foward driver wheel well outside face and took the paint and burrs off (what do ya know no more hopping the rails!) I even flipped the pilot wheel over and darn thing now stays on the rail, go figure.
Yes I even loosened up the tender wheels and yes there is a marked improvement.
However there is one slight anoyance I think might be in the circuit board but I am not sure then it could be dirty rails and the problem is the train suddenly stops. I give the throttle a tweek or change directions and she’s off and running. That one has me stymied.
Fergie, my Spectrum 4-8-2 and 2-8-0 would do that every once in a while when I first got them. The 4-8-2 is out of service due to a broken wire, but I run the 2-8-0 frequently and it hasn’t done it in a long time. The Spectrum Steamers are like a box of chocolates, you really never know what you’re gonna get?
Hi Fergie: As I said in the coffee shop mine is doing great. I’ve run it on both dc and dcc and had no problems. Since I’m doing drag service hauling iron ore I like the slow speed. I haven’t had any derailing problems except on my friends layout and that was caused by a dent in the rail. It looked like a hamer or something had been dropped on the rail and made a low spot. Strangly the loco didn’t derail when running light, just when pulling a heavy load. The only thing that I didn’t like was that they painted the cylinder heads silver. Big deal. It does lack in the pulling department but I’ll work that out. If and when I get a DCC system I’ll probably put in a sound decorder. That is some where in the future. So far I’ve got 4 Spectrum locomotives. The first two 2-8-0s had problems and the dealers took them back in exchange. I’ve had no problems since.
Here’s a couple of shots of mine. I can’t comment on the performance… my
layout is being dismantled, so I have only tested it with a little back and
forth running. Dave
(Click)
i ordered a tsunami about a month ago from Tony’s . it arrived in three weeks . it was the light steam though , probably not what you’re using in a 2-10-2 . nice looking engine
