LGB Rugens major fault - anybody got any ideas?

whatlep

whatlep

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I recently acquired an LGB Rugens 0-8-0 tank. Second hand, but a "shelf queen". The loco was still in its wrapping when I got it. So effectively new. It is a very early example of the loco type.
The loco has been chipped with a Massoth XL decoder and, for the first week in service on Ruritanian Railways, all was absolutely fine. No issues at all.

Last weekend the Rugens developed a sudden problem. It will not move in either direction at more than about 20% of top speed. I can reprogram the decoder CVs and the lights are working as expected. I suspect a motor problem.

Anyone had anything similar happen? I did notice that the Rugens was effectively being pushed along downhill by its trailing load as it is so free running. Hence the motor will have been turning at more than the expected speed for the power being supplied. Could it be that the motor has been trying to act as a generator or otherwise conflicting with the input power and has done a nasty to itself?

I need to get inside the loco to do some more investigation, but I haven't had the time to do so yet, given the amount of disassembly required. Any help gratefully received.
 
Just check the quatering as mine jumped a tooth once and drove like a camel:rolf::rolf:
 
My mallet once did this and John from Hobbie barn sorted it ( Sadly no longer with us )
In my case it was smoke fluid that had got into the motors and excess grease.
 
sound like your in shunting mode as paul says.. if u had a navagature you could tell what ampage it was pulling, so showing motor wear/failure
 
Not sure if you have a Navigator Pete, but check out the current reading.

If high, higher than say a 2 motored Mallet or Wizzy Cranks, then the motor could be duff, although as it's virtually new, I'd be surprised.

Hopefully though, you have inadvertantly selected 'shunting mode' by mistake....
 
mike said:
sound like your in shunting mode as paul says.. if u had a navagature you could tell what ampage it was pulling, so showing motor wear/failure
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul and Mike for the shunting suggestion. :thumbup: I'll have a shufti over the weekend and get out the ammeter to check current draw.
 
IT'S ALIVE! Paul, Mike & Gizzy all get gold stars for suggesting I'd accidentally invoked "shunting mode" on the Massoth XL. :kiss: I had. Shunting mode has now been firmly turned off via CV59 to prevent a repeat performance.

Thanks all - even an old "silverback" like me can sometimes get horribly confused. Thank goodness for GSC!
 
Well done Tigger :thumbup:
 
whatlep said:
IT'S ALIVE! Paul, Mike & Gizzy all get gold stars for suggesting I'd accidentally invoked "shunting mode" on the Massoth XL. :kiss: I had. Shunting mode has now been firmly turned off via CV59 to prevent a repeat performance.

Thanks all - even an old "silverback" like me can sometimes get horribly confused. Thank goodness for GSC!
Click to expand...
Good to hear Peter!

However I can't claim a gold star for what was both Paul and Mike's suggestion about 'shunting mode', as we only discussed motor current via PM.

Might be worth you reviewing the CV settings of the XL on the Rugens thaough, to prevent any future 'gotcha' problems....
 
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