I plan to add Bullfrog Snot to my engine wheels, but in order to do it properly I need to have the wheels powered and running at yard speed. This requires wiring the loco to power, but with the loco upside down so I can apply “tires” to the wheels while they are turning. I have both DCC and separate DC, but the locos are wired for DCC. What is the best way to wire my loco to do this? Thanks. JRP GSW&PRR
I’ve seen posts where people hold a section of powered track upside down over the loco while applying the BS.
JRB, you did not say if they are Diesels or Steamers. On my steamers the tenders have power pick up. I wire the engine and tender up side down and hook alligator to the tender axles. Make sure you use different trucks on the tender.
On Diesels you have a couple of options depending on the engine and how you have the decoders wired.
1 I have a Atlas wire wheel cleaner you hook to a power supply. Touch it to a set of wheels and the engine will run. I will add I don’t use it anymore.
2 You could pull the bottom of a truck, yank the axles and use alligator clips on the side frame power pick up.
3 On some of my PK’s I have been able to stuff the alligator clips in between the side frames and truck to where the make contact with the wheels.
4 On Athearn RTR’s and Proto yank the clips that hold the motor power wires, and hook clips to the motor wire.
That should give you some ideas JRB. I use to take my engines to work an work on them during the slow times. That why i had some ideas.
Cuda Ken
I would attach alligator clips to two lengths of wire. Then place the loco and tender upside down in a cradle and attach one wire to the loco and the other to the tender. Clip the other ends of the wires to the rails and you have DCC control right to the engine. If your decoder is in the engine, you may be able to attach the tender wire to the drawbar instead. This method is how I clean wheels.
If you have the decoder set to allow DC operation, you can power the loco either way - DCC or DC depending on what’s easiest at the bench. If they’re set to DCC only well, then you need to jumper from the DCC track.
Do NOT be tempted to clip anything directly to the motor, this will fry your decoder. Track poikcups, either by touching the rails or elsewhere BEFORE the decoder, yes. After the decoder, NO.
–Randy