Keep ALive in Newer LGB MFX locos

[phils2um]

By the way, the idea to use rail clamps to jumper power to the turnout points in the post above was unashamedly stolen from some other member of this forum. lf I could recall who, I'd give proper credit.

55429 power buffer installed. Track cleaner stall problem solved!

I've got a couple of conductive ink pens for repairing traces on circuit boards. I may try one out on the flange way strip when the weather improves.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Been doing that for about 20 years, but I don't think I posted pictures. big proponent of rail clamps...

 

[Dan]

Note on the Super caps, they are wired in series which increases the voltage to 16.2 volts, but divides the farads. in this case 7 caps will divide the farad rating by 1/7th (and all 7 should have the same ratings).

 

[LGB_Chur_Arosa]

I heard on Marklin new items video that starting from 2025 all new models will have buffer capacitors installed standard. the locomotives made between 2019 and 2024 usually do not have buffer cap even the models costing more than $1000 USD. LGB buffer cap 55429 can be installed in many of these but you would not know if there is room inside the loc to install it until you open it up, the exploding diagram of the loco is almost useless here as it doesn't tell you if the cap can fit or not

 

[dunnyrail]

I added some clamps to make sure power was getting to the point blades. Turns out power to the point blades was not the problem. (And it will not be one in the future now either!) Pun not intended.

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I am fairly sure the problem is at the long plastic frog the R5 turnouts have. The frog is longer than wheelbase of the power pickups in the track cleaner. The conducting stainless steel strips in the bottom of the frog flange ways have been pitted from arcing over the years and I don't think the track cleaner's flanges are making good contact. The diverging route sees much less use which explains why that SS strip is in better shape and the track cleaner traverses this turnout setting OK.

There has been recent chat about those strips at the bottom of the frog flanges, cleaning with suitable sized piece of wood appears to be the trick. Many moons back there was a guy in USA who used to keep track on his large HO line clean with a slider under a wagon allowed to move up and down with a small weight on top made of Homosote (Hardboard UK), thus the use of wood based track cleaning has credibility and stops making mini rail degradations.