Large Scale Central

Smoke unit causing short?

Problem Solving
#1

Howdy Rail fans. I bought a used LGB loco off Ebay and it is having a problem. It is a red Americanised Stainz with a smoke unit. I got it at a decent price but when I put it on the track it wouldn’t go. Contacted the seller who admitted that he hadn’t tested it but to have a look. I pulled the motor cover off and everything looked OK and the skates even like new. I applied power and nothing then noticed a “lever” that connects to the pickups on the right side to the bottom of the smoke unit. I slid this over to disconnect it from the unit and guess what the motor worked! Besides the bum smoke unit the loco looks good and does what it is supposed to.

So the big question is Can a bad smoke unit cause the motor not to spin?

#2

I think you just proved that to yourself.

#3

Yeah I guess I did prove it but why? How could a bad smoke unit cause the engine not to work? I’m guessing a burnt wire that is grounding out somewhere?

I just don’t know enough about the wiring on these LGB’s to guesstimate what is wrong with it. It would be nice to get the smoke working. Maybe the problem has nothing to do with the smoke unit?

#4

Are you capable of opening up the loco following the wires? Look for one pinched somewhere it shouldn’t be or with insulation missing. Bad smoke units are usually an open circuit, not a short so I’m pretty sure you will find a problem with the wiring.

#5

I wonder if it is a pinched wire and if it has been like that since it was new. The skates and the wheels look like they are like new.

This is one of those problems that can wait for a rainy day or probably more likely the Winter.

Thanks for the advice.

#6

Todd, the smoke unit runs from track power in that engine.

The metal nut/stack outer metal is tied to one rail via a brass strip in the motor block, the lever is tied with a wire (yellow form the factory) to the other rail on top of the motor block.

If the lever touches the nut, then you would have a short!!

I bend the lever to prevent this. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN THE STACK, the plastic inside will bend/break!!!