Hi Everyone! I’m trouble shooting a Prewar 262E that is pulling 4 cars. I’m using a Lionel KW transformer for power. With the 4 cars attached, full power on the transformer (about 18+ volts), the train draws about 3 Amps, but doesn’t run very fast - it goes just fast enough. But, if I give the engine a little bit of a shove with my hand, the engine will speed way up (so fast that it would derail on a curve) and the Amps drop down to about 2.5. Given this information, is there an obvious problem/solution? I.e. dirty brushes, loose wire, etc. Thanks in advance!
3 amps is, imho, wayyy too high! I’d say 2.5 amps is still fairly high. My inclination would be to disassemble and clean the locomotive’s mechanism thoroughly, while also checking for any obvious problem areas, and then re-assemble and lubricate.
A dirty commutator, weak brush springs, worn out brushes, or weak/dirty fingers on the E-Unit could all cause poor performance, and potentially excessive current draw. Old lubricant that has solidified will put strain on the mechanism that can cause excessive current draw and poor running, as can hair and carpet fibers that have gotten caught up in the mechanism. Weak tension on the pickup rollers could also cause issues, as well as the rollers themselves being dirty. The wheels don’t need to be absolutely spotless, but they shouldn’t be filthy as the locomotive does need to ground through them.
-El
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gm, also sounds like slow spots on track. check your connections, make sure track is clean (etoh, bright boy), and also your wheels.