When a loco crosses over a spliced track (joined by track connectors and solder) the train slows down as soon as it passes into the joined track. I have check the power and the meter readings are nearly the same. Any ideas why this happens. Thanks for you help.
dirty track?
Metering must be done several times. It must be done in several places. Because non-ballasted track lies unevenly on less-than-perfectly finished roadbed, or just whatever surface constitutes the surface of the layout if there is no roadbed, the track elements rise and fall, and they even torsion, when a heavy locomotive moves from one section to another. The whole thing squirms.
So, with barely a touch of the two probes, you meter in two or three places, maybe more. Say two on either side of the apparently defective join. The power looks fine! Then, you slowly run your locomotive up to and over the join, and beyond. All the while, you should be metering the rails ahead and behind to see what happens. It is likely that as the locomotive passes over a joint, or leaves one behind and places all its weight on the ‘close’ side of a joint, or on the close side of the one coming up in a second or two, that the mechanical deflection also causes a mechanical break in contact inside the joiner.
Sometimes people clamp meter probes on the rails and get no power, but when they touch one or both of the nearby joiners, either with a bit of side pressure or on top of the joint with a wooden dowel or even a finger, suddenly the meter shows that power is restored. When that happens, the joiner is splayed or dirty inside. Replacing the joiner, but first cleaning up each rail tip, will almost certainly restore connectivity. Unfortunately, it won’t last long. That is why most of us solder feeders to every length of track, or to every second pair of joiners, plus we solder every second pair of joiners to the rails. That way, each of those solder pairs of joiners transmits power two ways positively for the same distance…to the next pair of non-soldered joiners.
And yes, wipers inside the engine may be dirty, rubbed surfaces on axles or the backs of metal wheels, the tires, and the track…these could all be dirty.
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I think I read your similar post on another forum regarding this problem. I don’t know how much track laying experience you have but there are a number of problems that could be contributing to the operating symptoms you describe. If it was indeed your post on the other forum, you mentioned soldering rather large gauge feeders to the underside of the rail joiners as well as soldering the rail ends and joiners together. You also mentioned sliding the removed ties back under the rail joints.
First, the heavy gauge feeders you used may not allow the track to lay flat against the roadbed at the joints. As long as they remain short (six inches or less), light gauge feeders will provide all the voltage and current flow your trains need. Save the heavy gauge wire for the track power bus on the underside of the layout. Likewise, not only do you need to trim off the spike heads of the removed ties to allow you to slide them back under the rail, but you need to file down the area between the spikes to provide sufficent room for the presence of the rail joiner. Failing to make sure the track joints lay flat means that loco wheels could be lifting off of the track at these joints causing the wheels to lose electrical contact with the result that the loco slows over these joints.
Another possible problem is failing to clean and dress the solder joint after soldering. Most electronic type solders use a rosin flux core to clean the joint as you solder. However, it takes practice and a little skill to create clean and electrically “hot” solder joints. It is easy to see whether your solder joints are indeed clean and hot as they will stay smooth and shiny like chrome after the joint cools. If the solder turns a dull grey and/or has a pebbly surface after it has cooled, you have produced and electrically “cold” joint that will not effectively conduct electricity. Look at your solder joints closely.
Run your fingers along the tracks in the area in question – a “v” with two fingers down the rails. So you feel any variance or bump or anything at all at the place that causes the problem? There may be some variation that causes wheels to lift and lose or diminish contact
Run a free-rolling freight car along the tracks in the area in question while sighting/squinting down the tracks. Do you see it move or wobble or in any way react to the area in question? That may indicate you have somehow introduced a twist or other variation in the track that causes poor wheel to rail contact.
Dave Nelson
How much is nearly the same?
A 0.500mv drop (1/2 volt) will cause a noticeable slow down from one section to the next.
your feed back was about my layout…which is two circles of code 55 under the christmas tree - the layout looks like a big, but skinny, donught… but I agree his problem sounds pretty similar to mine. But for me, the odd thing is different engines run fine over these joints. I am starting to think it’s just the motor in that engine… I ran that engine one time for 8 hours or so… at the same speed.
When you say “45 degree connection”, are you referring to a crossing? If so, who made it? Code 100? 83? And who made the locomotive? Atlas? Tyco? AHM? We need more information.
Are you sure your train is not entering an unnoticed or unintentional hill. Years ago I had an “N” scale layout on a 5’ x 10’ sheet of plywood. It had to be moved for some work to be done. When it was put back (not by me) one corner not only did not have the cup under the leg to protect the carpet, but it was off the edge of the carpet and sitting on the hardwood floor. I scratched my head for quite a while as to why the train slowed down on the return trip as I had not noticed the grade that was unintentionally created. All was well once it was positioned properly again. Get out the level, you never know.
Brent[C):-)]
Hi!
I know how frustrating that can be, and believe me, we have all had those situations. The thing is, slowing down of the loco in a particular area is caused “almost always” by a few things.
The first is inadequate power hitting the trackage in question. The second is dirty track (put your finger in an alcohol soaked rag and rub it down the rail head. If there is dirt, the rag will show it). The third is dirty wheels on the loco (or tender) where power is picked up. In my opinion, assuming the track is on a flat surface, one or all of those three reasons are the culprits.
Had a similar problem going thru a turnout , just slowed down , same spot , no matter what engine. Problem was the rail joiner. Found it by sliding the joiner back and forth with the tip of a screwdriver , the movement must have cleaned it a bit .
Not actually following the other thread, did you check the track w/ a voltmeter at various sections? And this 45 degree you mention, is it a crossing? Check the voltage at all points through the crossing itself. Even w/ good conductivity through the rail joiners, the power routing within the crossing may be the trouble. Additional feeders can solve this.
You could just post in your other thread. Not necessary to keep creating new threads.
As to your problem. Did you clean the track and crossing? Inspect the crossing, make sure the rails are in place. Clean wheels on the loco?
Try to solder all the connections on the 45 degree crossing, to the track.
Thank you to those who responded to my post of 12/18, however, I still have the same problem. I have checked the track very closely and find no place where the wheels leave the track. When the train passes over a 45 degree connection is when it slows down. I did attach a new power souce just beyond the point where the train slows, but in spite of this new direct power source the it still slows. Apparently it is not a case of inadequate power, but I am stumped as what to do next. Any more thoughts (ideas) will be appreciated. Thank you.
Excuse this repetitive problem, but one more question. In an effort to maintain speed after the train crosses a 45 degree connector I put in a direct power source just after the crossing thinking this would solve the slowdown problem. However, in spite of this addtional power source the train still slows at this point. Any ideas why this new direct power source would not keep the train from slowing? Thanks for your help and commnets.
I wonder about that myself. I have a five foot stretch on my layout where the trains slow down for seemingly no reason. I’ve soldered it to the adjoining sections, installed additional feeders, all to no avail.
How did you add a new direct power source? The proper way is a second set of feeders (wires) to each rail connected back to your power pack.
If that is the case and you want to test them, disconnect the original wires. If you loose all power then the new set is not connected properly.
You mention a 45, is this a figure 8 layout? A diagram of your layout would be helpful, even one hand drawn. Show all power connection points.
One last question, do you have a DMM? If not that’s fine, it would just make some checks easier.
It might be helpful at this point because this issue is different threads to run down everything you have tried so far. This might be helpful so more fixes can be suggested.
Jim brought this up as well as someone in an earlier thread, your “45 degree connector” The power routing in that piece of track could be faulty. Do you have another 45 piece to try? That could be the problem. Also remind us of the type and brands of the engine(s) that are having trouble with this spot in the track.