Oriental limited Powerhouse 2-8-2 Light Mikado #8012

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1
I have an Oriental Limited Powerhouse series Light Mikado and am having a little problem with it.Despite the fact that I cleaned the wheels,it stalls a lot and requires a shove to get it moving.I suspect since the tender is so light that the wheels are making intermitant contact with the rails.Do you think it would help to add weight to the tender?The tender appears to be brass,and I don’t know how to take it apart without damage.Please advise!


2

I’ve got five of these engine.

The tenders are heavy enough. Make sure that ALL of the contact points on the tender are clean: wheels, bolster, drawbar. Make sure that the springs under the trucks are nice and springy.

But the tender shouldn’t be the issue; generally in a situation like this, the engine just needs to be cleaned, lubed and run in. On the engine, make sure that the drivers are clean, oil the driver axle bearings, and clean and oil the gear tower (the motor’s a sealed case Canon can motor, which shouldn’t rerquire any maintenance). Make sure that the drawbar connection between the engine and tender works properly and isn’t binding. Make sure there’s no cat hair anywhere in the mechanism (you’d be surprised at what I’ve seen in basket case steam!)

After the entire engine’s been cleaned and lubed, break-in run the snot out of it. Ideally, NOT on the layout, where switches and lots of rail joints (and less than perfect trackwork) can mess with a smooth break-in run. I keep a full loop of Bachmann 33" radius EZ-Track just to break in engines.

I’ve found these engines to be very good performers overall, at least on the level of anything BLI has ever built. Too bad they’re all metal and a pain to modify easily.

3

The drawbar connection with the spring loaded wire can be a major problem is it is not touching the pin with a certain amount of presure. The pin in the hole without the wire will always cause problems.

All wheels and connection being cleaned, the engine is generally a good runner.

Ozidation or dirt can ruin the performance.

4


Thanks for the replies.So I should make sure the wire is properly touching the pin and make sure that the bolster is clean.When it runs,it is the smoothest steamer that I have.I think that part of the problem is that has not been run enough.I will take your advice and run it for long periods.My Bowser Ten Wheeler is very reliable(but nowhere near as smooth) and it has a heavy diecast tender and a positive electrical connection to the frame utilizing a screw.


5
Well I cleaned the wheels and checked the connections and put her on the track.At first it would jerk and stall but the more I ran it the better it ran.I will continue to run it for an hour and see if the performance improves.


6


Well i ran it for 2 hours straight,and the performance continued to improve.It is amazing to me that there was nothing wrong with the loco except disuse and dirty wheels!My Athearn Diesels are much less fussy and are not troubled by dirty track.But the flywheels probably allow the diesels to plow through dirty track.Thanks for the advice!(especially Orson Roy)


7

Any time, Philo; always glad to help out a fellow steam modeler!