Percy is backwards

[Kev Green]

I've recently bought a Percy along with his troublesome trucks on ebay to amuse my grandkids. Strange thing is it runs opposite to my other engines in that I have to put in in reverse for it to go forwards, any idea why that would be?

 

[Brixham]

I think there is a polarity switch fitted to most, if not all Percy’s, and later TTTE locos. Thomas didn’t have one ( at first?), later production may have one. Look for a small slider switch. It may even be mentioned in the instruction leaflet that most men don’t read!

Malcolm

 

[Kev Green]

Thank you. Thankfully it didn't come with an instruction leaflet so I won't have to ignore it

 

[playmofire]

If there isn't any formal means of solving the problem, switching the connections round from the skates should work. Alternatively, if it's possible, remove the motor, turn it round though 180 degrees and replace it. The "front" of the motor is now at the bunker end and so thr problem should be solved.

Both these work on Playmobil track-powered locos if they run backwards when they should run forwards.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Thank you. Thankfully it didn't come with an instruction leaflet so I won't have to ignore it

On some Bachmann models, the slide switch is behind the smoke box door, but I don't know if the faces of Thomas and Percy open up in the same way

 

[Greg Elmassian]

does not seem to have a LGB/NMRA switch... the eyes in the smokebox eliminated the location for the switch.

https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/58742.pdf

Greg

 

[a98087]

If theres no slider switch, then the only option is to swap over the motor wires,

 

[Rhinochugger]

does not seem to have a LGB/NMRA switch... the eyes in the smokebox eliminated the location for the switch.

https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/58742.pdf

Greg

What does that board in the roof do? Might be the least painful way to change a couple of wires

 

[maxi-model]

Well according to this Bachmann Percy the Small Engine | Garden Railways Magazine There is a polarity switch under the fireman's side on the chassis plate. But this is a version with a sound card that can be operated on both DC & DCC modes. Article dated 2020 Max

 

[Chris Vernell]

The early Percies, such as the one I have, had no polarity switch, so could not be run in tandem with Lionel or LGB loks. I believe Bachmann clued in with later models, as my Thomas and Toby do have switches. As does Devious Diesel.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Chris, where is the switch in your Thomas?

 

[voodoopenguin]

The polarity switch on my Percy.




paul

 

[Chris Vernell]

Chris, where is the switch in your Thomas?

Under the footplate at the rear, IIRC, but I haven't looked in three years.

 

[maxi-model]

Looking at the exploded diagrams on Bachmann's site, under "LS Percy", note LS not those grouped under"Thomas and friends"heading Bachmann Trains Online - Our Patents. Scroll all the way down, past "Thomas and friends", they are there, and download. There are two versions, DC & DCC/Sound. Only the DCC/Sound version appears to have an aperture for a switch on the fireman's side, as is clearly shown in the link I provided in post #9. That for the DC version does not nor any other obvious location. Under the coal load ? So which version Kev do you have ? If nothing else you will have a wealth of documentation to help you care for grandchildrens' amusement. Max

P.S. The link in post #6 is for the OO Percy not the LS. Easy mistake to make as their scale is not noted there.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

I had the same problem with my Thomas, no switch. I just unsoldered the wires connecting the motor and swapped them over.

 

[Kev Green]

Thanks everyone, I found the switch all sorted