Loco and tender - different speeds?

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forester

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I have an LGB 23262 loco with one motor in the engine, one in the tender, purchased from new a few years ago and unmodified. Recently the behaviour of the loco seemed strange, sometimes not running smoothly and the tender seemed to be slipping.

Picking the engine up when the loco is running slowly results in an increase in the rate of chuffs, engine wheels appear to turn faster, but the tender continues at the same speed. Can the two go at different speeds? I have tried unplugging/refitting the connections between the two, and resetting to the factory CV (although this has never been changed previously) but no change.

Is there a small problem or am I witnessing normal behaviour?
 
I would agree with Cliff, sometinmg doesn't seem right. I would take both halves apart and check the motors are adequately lubricated. Then check the condition of the brushes, if it has had a lot of use they may be very worn and one may not be making proper contact. Next step is make sure there is no oil or other detritus on the comutator (the bit the brushes run on). Hopefully somewhere in this lot you'll find your answer. If not and the motors are still running at different speeds one may have a short circuit in it's windings, if so, easiest to replace the motor complete. I did used to rewind motors years back (slot car racing) but it's a bit hit and miss trying to get two identical.
EDIT I should have said that a good brush check is to run the motor with no load and observe the brushes for arcing, a small amount is acceptable but if it's flaring then the contact is poor.
 
I strongly suspect that a small difference in uncoupled speeds between loco and tender is acceptable, if not normal. Double heading of dissimilar locos isn't unusual.
However you state that running quality has deteriorated, so some investigation is called for.
Perhaps you'd care to try hauling a modest load using only the loco and then only the tender, to determine if one or both give unsatisfactory running. However results this test may be confused by the reduced number of pickups compared to both units wired together. Clean wheels, skates and track should minimise this risk.
 
This loco has a unique speed-compensating circuit that depends upon the tender being connected via the special conductor wire to the locomotive. While all of the previous maintenance advice applies, the integrity of the plugs and connecting wire is essential to keeping the tender from outrunning the loco. I am so concerned about the fragility of the connection that I try to avoid separating the engine and tender.
 
Dear All

Thanks for the advice

I took the tender apart today, and whilst I did not get as far as the motor brushes, there was not a lot amiss. A quick clean and reassembly and things were better.

In fact I think Arthur was probably nearest the root of the issue - one of the wires in the connection to the engine to the tender appeared loose. Remaking the joint seems to have solved it. It is not the most robust of connections.

I have had this loco for around four years now. Maintenance to date has been minimal as it does not seem to have needed any. I run the loco once a week, typically trundling around a 70m loop pulling a three coach train on a level circuit at constant speed whilst I relax, sit back and enjoy the view. Say around three hours a week at most. I regard this as low use - any thoughts?
 
Geoff,
I would consider your loco as merely being broken in. You certainly should not have any motor issues. As the owner of some thirty-year-old models that can still do a day's work of pulling heavy trains up steep grades, I can vouch for LGB durability. Frankly, I don't think the electronic speed differentiation on the Frank S type 0-6-0's was LGB's greatest achievement from a reliability standpoint, and it doesn't seem to have been perpetuated. Glad you were able to find the problem.
 
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