New Hornby Class 40

Just a quick question, I really don't want to subject my new Class 40 to DC so will it be OK to use DCC on a running road??

Thanks
Ron

Hello Ron

I have run in all 50+ of my locos on DCC with no problems.

Regards

Derek

Thanks Derek, guess what I'm doing tomorrow! :)

You don't have to run DCC locos in on DC.

 The decoder converts the DCC voltage to DC.

 When I get a new loco I test it on DC to make sure it works, fit the decoder then run it in on DCC.

 Cheers

  Ian

While we're on that subject.

What formula do you use for running in?

1/4 hour at half speed then 1/2 hour at full speed?

I've never actually known what it should be.

I just run mine until the smoke stops.  :lol: 

running in is uually 30mins at half speed forwards  then the same in revese,


:thumbs;-):cool:

Thanks, Owen.

I've got speedometers built into my tracks.  So, I run the locos full throttle and watch their speed on each lap.  From out of the box their speed increases - usually up to about 5 scale miles per hour.

It doesn't seem to matter which way I run them, as then when I change direction, their speed doesn't increase.

I don't know if this is the right way of doing it or not.


It's interesting to see how others do it.

Do you service the drive train before you start - or just run them straight out of the box?

I usually do 30 mins at 50% speed then reverse then the same again at 75% speed.

Ron

Max I just run them straight out of the box,then service them after, as for he right way well there really is no right way as long as it is done, the whole idea is to bed everything in,gears axles etc before putting them under load,         (like we had to with cars once)
:thumbs;-):cool:

Fair enough, Owen.

Do any of the manufacturers recommend anything?

well hornby and bachmann both reomend running in for one hour ,30min fwd and rev,others used to but most have been taken over so I think now it is a general concensus, most of my old rail books recomend it
:thumbs;-):cool:

Thanks, Owen.  I'll go with that.  :thumbs

I must admit, I have a few locos that were never run in as such.

 I just tested loco and decoder,  fitted the decoder, programed to requirements and put straight into service.

 DCC fitted locos tested, programed put straight into service.

 Said locos are  performing just as good as the locos that had been run in.

 Generally speaking I think the mechs in modern locos are better than those produced yrs ago.

  I can remember when we would srtip a loco down, fill the gear boxes with tooth paste and then run for 10 minutes F & R.

 Specially Athearn locos.   

Cheers

  Ian

totally agree Ian,hence the ref to running in old cars, I think the main prob now is manufacturers are putting to much lube in them
:thumbs;-):cool:

'Straight from the horses mouth', as they say. (sorry it's a bit blurred).

I received this loco last week (got fed up waiting for the Hornby J15).



I think there used to be a lot of confusion on older models that were DCC ready, in that the instructions said run in on DC.

There was quite a debate on the web a while ago about running in on DCC and the decoder compensating for any wear within the mechanism.

 I finally braved the cold yesterday and run this one for about 10 minutes in each direction on DC, but only because I can swap the layout to DC if I want to and really just to check it's ok and I don't need to send it back.

I'll put the decoder in and run it again for a while, again just to check it's ok, but since it will always be run at moderate (or slow) speed anyway I don't really see the need to run it continuously for an hour.

Just my view.


Ed

Class 40 for detailing Hornby model.





Hornby Class 40, to see what I need to do on the loco front.

40-106-Bridgenorth-3-10-14- by D1021, on Flickr

Just got my Model Rail Sentinel. Ran it on the rollers on DC, 1/2 hour forwards at various speeds, then did the same again in reverse. The chipped it and checked again. Sorted.

As has been mentioned, running in a loco is not as necessary with newer offerings, but it is still a good idea. And using DC or DCC is not a issue, the mechanism doesn't care, as long as it gets power. I've used both, when I worked at the model train store.

After making sure it would actually move in forward and reverse after taking it out of the box, we just went with approx.  15 minutes at moderate high speed in forward, then repeat in reverse. Any issues will more than likely show up in that time, yet that seemed enough time for the loco to settle in.

If the loco left the factory over lubed, there will be signs of it, either on the underside of the unit, or in interior tray of the packaging.

Jim F

I'm pretty sure the idea of running in on DC was to do with the gurarantee.

Fitting a decoder to a DC loco (even if it's "DCC ready") is considered "tinkering with it" and that voids the manufacturers guarantee.

Obviously, if a loco is "DCC Fitted", then it should be run in on DCC, if the decoder is not factory fitted, then it should be run in on DC before fitting the chip.  The main thing is, don't take the loco apart otherwsise the guarantee is techically void.

I'm like Ian - some I've run in, some I haven't ……………..:roll::roll::roll:

Peter,the main manufactureres now have it in writing that fitting decoders does not invalidate the waranty,they also rcomend removing capacitors too.
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