LGB trackcleaner loco woes

[KeithT]

My trusty trackcleaner LGB 20670 is playing up. It is the Analogue/Digital version.

It runs forward in cleaner mode with lights and flashers for a while but then begins to hesitate. Sometimes the cleaner motor will continue to run normally whilst the main motor stops but next both motors stop and start together.
It will not run backwards in cleaner mode (no lights either). Switch to "normal" mode and everything is dead.

I first noticed that it was not running normally on the MTS but had not used it since late last year. Today I was using analogue.

My suspicion is that the board is u/s or might it just be the main motor?

Can anyone advise please? .

 

[stevelewis]

Hi Keith

Speaking from my track cleaning experiences of many years ( A block of wood & Emery paper!!)

I have no experience of LGB TCLs but one thing that does spring to mind is if you were using Analogue today but the TCL has been previously digitally run could it be that the decoder is rembering previous setting ?? maybe wort trying it in digital mode

Also may be worth trying a factory reset on the decoder

 

[jacobsgrandad]

Cllaener mode does not oiperste when running backwards so no fault there. The only time mine hesitates is if the track is extremely dirty hence no pickup. I didn't know you could swith them to analogue so cant help you there

 

[minimans]

Sounds Like the board to me unfortunatly, mine did exactly the same thing only mine is a analog digital ready version it turned out to br the lighting circuit was at fault but when it shorted the lights it stoped the motors too. I couldn't get a new board for mine so rewired the board minus the flashy lights and now it works fine. I also added some weight to the driver end to improve the pickup and stop it slipping on my grades. and my final fix was to add a plug to the back of the loco so I could plug in a trailing car equiped with metal wheels and pickups.................

 

[nico]

Sounds Like the board to me unfortunatly, mine did exactly the same thing only mine is a analog digital ready version it turned out to br the lighting circuit was at fault but when it shorted the lights it stoped the motors too. I couldn't get a new board for mine so rewired the board minus the flashy lights and now it works fine. I also added some weight to the driver end to improve the pickup and stop it slipping on my grades. and my final fix was to add a plug to the back of the loco so I could plug in a trailing car equiped with metal wheels and pickups.................

I was thinking of adding weight to mine ,where did you put it Paul

 

[Bredebahn]

Nico - Whatever you do, don't add weight over the cleaning wheels.

 

[KeithT]

Hi Keith

Speaking from my track cleaning experiences of many years ( A block of wood & Emery paper!!)

I have no experience of LGB TCLs but one thing that does spring to mind is if you were using Analogue today but the TCL has been previously digitally run could it be that the decoder is rembering previous setting ?? maybe wort trying it in digital mode

Also may be worth trying a factory reset on the decoder

Steve that is worth a try. I had something similar happen with the Saxon before I got the MTS.
I will try it tomorrow.

 

[Philbahn]

It sounds like the motor Keith. The mallet was the same on the rear bogie. Changed the motor yesterday, Cured

 

[pugwash]

Probably preaching to the converted, but when I put the LGB shuttle circuit on my branchline the instructions said the cleaning loco wouldn't work on a line fitted with this circuit (I put in a switch with manual or shuttle mode - just in case someone ever gives me a cleaning machine ).

 

[KeithT]

Thanks for the comments folks, it looks as if I need to open it up ASAP or at least before I need to use it again.

 

[stevelewis]

Funny things these TCLs, .................... when I started in G scale ( it wsnt even called G scale in those days it didnt really have a specific title) There was no such thing as a Track cleaning loco,
So I grew up so to speak using manual methods of track cleaning usually emery paper wrapped around a block of wood, and I still use this method today. At my previous address I had quite an extensive line which was in situ for over 12 years and I didnt have any issues with track cleaning, in fact I always consider that manual track cleaning does help in finding any other faults at the same time which may go unnoticed with a TCL , such as loose ballast or track that needs repacking (tamping!!).

But it does seem that there are a disproportionate number of faults with TCLs being reported on forums .

Dont get me wrong I am not Knocking the TCL concept just seems that perhaps they need to be a little more robust to work well

 

[KeithT]

Funny things these TCLs, .................... when I started in G scale ( it wsnt even called G scale in those days it didnt really have a specific title) There was no such thing as a Track cleaning loco,
So I grew up so to speak using manual methods of track cleaning usually emery paper wrapped around a block of wood, and I still use this method today. At my previous address I had quite an extensive line which was in situ for over 12 years and I didnt have any issues with track cleaning, in fact I always consider that manual track cleaning does help in finding any other faults at the same time which may go unnoticed with a TCL , such as loose ballast or track that needs repacking (tamping!!).

But it does seem that there are a disproportionate number of faults with TCLs being reported on forums .

Dont get me wrong I am not Knocking the TCL concept just seems that perhaps they need to be a little more robust to work well

I agree that they seem to be more fragile than most LGB motive power but I have found it to be the most useful loco in my collection. There is about 100m of track, some of it under trees with low hanging branches where I would have to crawl on my hands and knees to clean it.
I will try the reset method first before opening it up.

 

[minimans]

[/quote]

I was thinking of adding weight to mine ,where did you put it Paul
[/quote]
If you remove the motor hood I used sticky wheel balence weights stuck to the underside of the hood one on top of another till it just clears the circuit board and put a piece of card between the weights and board "Just in case"!!!

 

[stevedenver]

let me suggest that instead of weights you can reverse the motor wires to the grinder

very easy to do-they simply plug in

i normally do not monkey with LGB stuff and leave it alone=engineering is usually quite good 

but i have some grades and when wet or the track is gummy with sap-the loco can actually slip to the point that the grinders push it backwards

when the grinders pull the same direction  they add traction-yes the grinding is slightly reduced but can be compensated by simply slowing down the forward speed via the roof control pot

havent noticed any difference in effectiveness and
it tracks much better through points
sort of front wheel drive, if you like