P2K SW1200 pickup problems

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve got two of these, both with NCE SW9-SR decoders. One is currently running great. The other is giving me fits. It’s hesitating like crazy, and the lights blink when it does so. So far I’ve cleaned the track, cleaned the wheels, and taken the side plates off the trucks and cleaned the axel holes in the coper pickup strips - all to no avail. Next attempt will be to solder the leads to the copper pickup strips, and maybe take a jewlers file to the axel holes to make sure they are clean. I didn’t find any evidence of broken wires - yet. Any other suggestions?

Jim

2

Are both trucks free swinging and all eight wheels all times on the track?

3

I too experienced poor electrical pickup from my P2K SW1200 and SW900. I solved the problem by attaching the wires directly to the axles.

Remove the side frames. Take a 2-inch piece of thin, stranded wire and strip about half an inch of insulation from each end. Make a loop around one axle end and twist the wire so the loop just fits over the axle. Remove the loop and solder the twisted part. Repeat this at the other end of the wire. Slip the loops back over the axles of one truck and replace the side frame. Do this on every axle on both sides of the loco.

Next, connect the two wires on the same side of the loco and then to your decoder.

This is the general idea but you can alter it to best suit your own wiring methods.

4

I think I got it. I thought the wheels were clean… wheels were NOT clean. Of course, it took removing the shell, replacing some wires, cleaning the axel holes, bending pickup clips… before I caved and cleaned the wheels better. Running much better now. I may have to try gleaming the track…

Jim

5

I’ve also had the power pickup problems with the Proto 2000 switchers.

Not to hijack the thread, but I’ve also experienced power pickup problems with the Proto 2000 E-8s, after installing a DCC decoder. On DC, the flywheel carries the loco past the power dropout. On DCC, with sound and momentum, the decoder drops out and starts over from stop.

6

Get a better decoder. Some decoders have a small capatance charge to allow it to coast over some dirty track.

David B

7

DCC is extremely sensitive to dirt. I have the same problem with my DCC equipped Life-Like GM switchers. The NCE SW9-SR decoders don’t like dirty wheels or dirty track.

8

I was having the same problem with a P2K SW8 with factory installed DCC and sound until I used USA Trains brand Conductive lubricant (part #R50002) on the axles. I’ve also hit the grommets at the switch points on all of my turnouts with the same product and I no longer have any issues with stalling or hesitation.

Here’s a link

http://www.usatrains.com/r50001.htm

Hope this helps,

Glenn

9

Not quite accurate. It’s downright picky![(-D]

10

That sounds good to me. I’ll see if I can hunt some down. Is it similar to Atlas Conducta Lube?

11

Couldn’t tell you, Jim as I’ve never seen the other product. It’s a dark grey paste that comes in an ointment jar.

My LHS found it for me when I was complaining of performance problems with the Proto. Yes it would seem that good LHS’s still exist out there…

They order pretty consistently from Walthers so that may be a source. If not, they have another jar on the shelf that I could ship to you.

Lemme know,

Glenn

12

Glenn,

I appreciate the offer, but I’ll add it to my list for the Amhearst train show at the end of the month.

Thanks,

Jim