Hi chaps - I've been in the roof this morning scrubbing the track and cleaning wheels getting the layout ready again now spring is here, but i'm having real trouble with the HST.  I have the chip settings set so that the train takes a while to speed up like the real thing, and as new last year worked lovely, but now it keeps stalling all of the time to a stop and having to pick up speed again.  Does anyone know if there is a special model electrical contact paste to put on the pickups, I have some electrical contact paste that we put into main isolator switches but i'm not sure if it will damage the model plastic. any ideas welcome please.

Cheers John

That may help but if it is sticky then it could pick up dust and dirt and make the problem worse.

I would go the other way and clean the backs of the wheels and contacts as thoroughly as possible. I usually use IPA for this which evaporates quickly. Try and avoid anything abrasive as this will create scratches in the pickups which will hold dirt.

And make sure you have as many pickups on as many wheels as possible.

Julian

Cheers for the help, I'm going to have a go with it all tomorrow. Will let you know what happens

Hi

I remember seeing an excellent page on the website of a DCC layout called Dugglethorpe that explained how to add extra brass pickups to wheels on locos.  I had a link on my Beeches TMD website but the Dugglethorpe site doesn't seem to be available.

http://beechestmd.webs.com/rollingstock.htm  

I am assuming your loco doesn't have pick ups on all the wheels.  If you want to add more I have done this successfully on two of my older locos.  I am happy to share this with you if you wish - let me know.

Regards

Paul

Did you get a chance to have a go at the pick ups yet John. I take it that the loco stalls in different positions on the track ,not always the same spot?  Is it just with slow running or does it cut out at any speed?

hi chaps - sorry been a bit busy today with ballet &  photo shoots  (NO….. not for me, for my daughter)! ….right lets get back to business. Just to answer a couple of questions for you, the HST in question is a new hornby hst which has pickups on all 8 wheels and yes it can start picking up speed and then cut out, and other times wont pick up speed at all.  I wondered if it was the track needing extra feeds to start with, but everything else runs fine, its just the hst.  I take it off the track and use cleaning fluid on the wheels, keep turning and cleaning them and they look quite to very clean and the track is very clean, thats why i thought it might be the pick ups themselves but with all wheels picking up there shouldnt be a problem in my eyes. I just dont get it. The next thing i'm going to try is reprogaming the chip so it can just take of at speed without the slow start and see if that works.  Next week I have my brothers wedding so no trains then either, what's it like ?  I will let you know hoe I get on though

Have to say  with my limited knowledge of decoders , it does sound like a decoder problem .A few more expert  members will probably give some advice . Do you know ,and do you have the means of resetting the decoder to its default settings John?

Looks like i might have to reset it, which is a shame as I programmed it and it was perfect and I cant remember what settings I put into it now :hmm

Depending on your DCC sysytem, I would have thought that by using the programming track, you could read all your CVs first before resetting. I know I can with NCE.

[user=95]Sol[/user] wrote:

Depending on your DCC sysytem, I would have thought that by using the programming track, you could read all your CVs first before resetting. I know I can with NCE.

Hi matey, I have the dynamis, and have to buy the dynamis pro box to be able to read back unfortunately. 

That's a so&so John . I write my settings down ,on scraps of paper on the workbench and then lose them.

 Looks like the way to go with it though. Not something as daft as a loose decoder plug /socket i suppose. ?

Hi John

Can you tell us what decoder it is, and what brand/style of loco it is, please?

 

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

Hi John

Can you tell us what decoder it is, and what brand/style of loco it is, please?

 

Lenz silver, plug in type rather than wired type

Thanks, John.  And the loco?  Is it a Hornby by any chance?

yep it's the new hornby hst :roll:

I think I see what you are aimimg at Max,-  post #6 indicated a Hornby so it maybe the capacitors if left in, will give problems.

I'm not very well up on UK outlines, John.  I'm assuming a HST is a diesel.  :oops:

Sol's right.  It's a good plan to snip off the capacitors when you put in a decoder.  They can cause problems.

Older Hornby (particularly steamers), had very poor pickups, so if it's a new one (and a diesel), it's probably OK.

Is it possible to swap the decoder into another loco? - and vice versa?  That might tell you if it's the loco or the decoder.

I have learnt from bitter experience that there is only one thing to use to clean wheels, rails and pickups.  That is isopropyl alcohol.  Any abrasive will make little scratches which quickly fill up with gunk.  Any oil (including Whale), will stick the dirt to the rails and wheels.

A favourite way of dealing with dirty connections is to have the IPA in a spray bottle and spray the wheels and pickups.  Then spray the rails ahead of the loco until it runs well.  A cork block will help to rub the railheads as you go.

Keep us posted.  :thumbs

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

I'm not very well up on UK outlines, John.  I'm assuming a HST is a diesel.  :oops:

Sol's right.  It's a good plan to snip off the capacitors when you put in a decoder.  They can cause problems.

Older Hornby (particularly steamers), had very poor pickups, so if it's a new one (and a diesel), it's probably OK.

Is it possible to swap the decoder into another loco? - and vice versa?  That might tell you if it's the loco or the decoder.

I have learnt from bitter experience that there is only one thing to use to clean wheels, rails and pickups.  That is isopropyl alcohol.  Any abrasive will make little scratches which quickly fill up with gunk.  Any oil (including Whale), will stick the dirt to the rails and wheels.

A favourite way of dealing with dirty connections is to have the IPA in a spray bottle and spray the wheels and pickups.  Then spray the rails ahead of the loco until it runs well.  A cork block will help to rub the railheads as you go.

Keep us posted.  :thumbs

cheers for all of the help - I think the isopropyl is what I use with a cotton bud, great point about abrasive though - I too learnt the hard way ! I will keep you posted how I get on. A HST is a High speed train (intercity) just a sneaky photo to show you ! 

 

(Click to enlarge)

Don't be afraid to spray the IPA on liberally, John.  The cotton bud might not be doing it for you.

Any luck yet John?