I've also got a problem with my Grange that I purchased at Ally Pally but I'm having trouble proving it's the loco. Let me explain.
When I got it home I put it on my test track which is code 80 with an ancient Farish controller. It ran fine right down to a crawl (DC not DCC). Recently in preparation for an exhibition this coming weekend I ran it on the exhibition layout and it ran really badly with the motor growling and jerking. All my other locos (Manors, Halls, 2884's, etc) ran fine. Thinking it just needed a clean and lube I set to. Afterwards I ran it on my test track and it was perfect.
However, placing it on my exhibition layout again I found it still growled and jerked it's way around the track. My exhibition layout uses Gaugemaster W controllers (No feedback). After lots of tests and checks I find that the loco runs fine on both test track and layout when I use the Farish controller but hates the W. Clutching at straws now I swapped the blanking plug which, as I suspected, had no effect. I have also checked the pickup of every individual wheel and, with the motor just ticking over, they are perfect.
The difference in the sound the motor makes is remarkable. It's almost as if the W is putting out an ac overlay or is on half wave rectification. However I got three W's and a spare transformer and the problem is always there regardless of the combination.
I'm now stumped.
Advice please?
When I got it home I put it on my test track which is code 80 with an ancient Farish controller. It ran fine right down to a crawl (DC not DCC). Recently in preparation for an exhibition this coming weekend I ran it on the exhibition layout and it ran really badly with the motor growling and jerking. All my other locos (Manors, Halls, 2884's, etc) ran fine. Thinking it just needed a clean and lube I set to. Afterwards I ran it on my test track and it was perfect.
However, placing it on my exhibition layout again I found it still growled and jerked it's way around the track. My exhibition layout uses Gaugemaster W controllers (No feedback). After lots of tests and checks I find that the loco runs fine on both test track and layout when I use the Farish controller but hates the W. Clutching at straws now I swapped the blanking plug which, as I suspected, had no effect. I have also checked the pickup of every individual wheel and, with the motor just ticking over, they are perfect.
The difference in the sound the motor makes is remarkable. It's almost as if the W is putting out an ac overlay or is on half wave rectification. However I got three W's and a spare transformer and the problem is always there regardless of the combination.
I'm now stumped.
Advice please?
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