Total Newbie in East Tennessee!

K

KKHeckman

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Hey yall. I am completely new to the hobby and working on my first layout. Maybe it's over ambitious, but I decided to go battery power right out of the gate. I saw a video of people running G scale on dewalt 20V batteries and just wanted to try. I just got done with my first install using a power car for the RC module and the battery. I picked up a complete set of the LGB 100 year anniversary set on ebay about a year ago. Only thing I am currently struggling with is that my Stainz seems to have an issue with its engine when it starts out. After a quick push it runs great.

Anyway looking forward to learning from everyone and posting updates on my journey!
 

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Hi KK, (what do we call you?) and welcome to the Forum! You're not alone in using battery power -for some of us, it seems the right choice, while others scratch their heads and wonder what we're up to. There is a vast range within this group, both in terms of what we run (battery, track power, live steam) and where we live (pretty much everywhere on the planet). Then there's the choice of railroad/railway being modelled: US, UK, Continental Europe, Africa...the list goes on.
There is a wealth of information on here, and I'm sure someone will have some thoughts on what's holding your Stainz back. If you want to know something, ask questions: there's no such thing as a stupid one on here.
Finally, it's good to see that you've already posted some photos: we like photos on here, almost as much as we like terrible jokes; feel free to contribute both!
 
Welcome to the forum KK....
 
Welcome to the forum KK, yes dead rail is the way to go, well according to those if us who appreciate the no cleaning of track. Ok as a starter to use the dewalt batteries but you may get fed up with takingbthem out of your trailing car to recharge in time. Look towards inside batteries for the future, though Stainz is a but of a challenge but can be done. But you have made a good start.

As for your Stainz being a bit sticky, likely it could do with a bit of a service both on the visible but also inside. The gear oil can get gunky over time and the pickup plungers could be in need of renewal. Syptainz can be a but tricky to out back together once you have pulled it apart. If you can take lots of pictures as you go with a few safe places to put things with perhaps a small note to say where from, there are at least 4 different sized screw possibly more.

Link to service manual which shows where all the relevant parts come out. Just search for your loco serial number in the list.

LGB PDF Parts Information

LGB PDF Parts Information
www.trainli.com www.trainli.com
 
Hi KK

Welcome to the Forum. My son and his family live in Knoxville, we like to visit regularly, but these days it's about once a year, may get to look you up some time. If you are not already aware, the Knoxville Area Model Railroad Club have an extensive G Scale outdoor layout, at their headquarters, in Oak Ridge. I'm sure, if you made contact, you would get advice and help there.

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David
 
Welcome to the Forum!

If your Stainz is running a little lumpy, look hard at the wheels, face-on, on either side. It may be that one axle has jumped a tooth in the motor-block, causing the motion to have a stiff spot?

PhilP.
 
Welcome aboard from Southeast Pennsylvania.
 
Welcome to the forum, KK, from Western Massachusetts! I, too, run battery power. Though, I use Li-ion batteries wired into my engines. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, either in a post or privately. I'm always happy to help (when I can).

If you haven't heard of it, there is a Large Scale train show up here in May. Northeast Large Scale Train Show The annual Railroad Hobby Show just happened (same venue and host). I'm going to be posting a thread in a minute with pictures and videos from it.
 
Welcome to the forum, KK. You've made a start which is a good thing. Try to relax into the hobby and let things grow. If you start small there's always somewhere to grow, and garden railways have different issues to those inside. The weather for one, it'll only rain on the day you needed to test your outside line
 
K KKHeckman welcome indeed from the one and only Grand Duchy, it is good to have you along. As you have probably already noticed the other members here are quick to give helpful advice but be warned as one question will get a dozen different answers! Look forward to not only hearing of your steps into G scale but seeing photos.
 
Howdy KK. I am also an East Tennessee hillbilly, and a member of the Knoxville Area Model Railroaders. Would like to invite you to our monthly train run. The third Sunday PM. 1 - 4.
Several G-scalers of various levels of skills in modeling & running g-scale trains. And, we have a sizable outdoor layout.
Tom K.
 
This is info for the locos made before the Marklin move of the factory.

There were 3 different types of the Stainz engine for the motor blocks.
Oldest was the 'growler', the first ones made. And they do growl!!
Then came the split case motor block version
Now there is the newer one, no split case.
On the bottom of LGB engines there may be several different stickers.
White was for late 80's and early 90 versions of the split case.
Newest versions 1993 and later had several stickers. 6 digit gold told the date of manufacture in the format of YDDMMY.
Silver sticker denoted whether it had the 4 wire motor block (needed for DCC operation/or upgrading to DCC plus another sticker for the engine part number. Early locos had a 4 digit part number, later ones had a 5 digit number.
Also note that a single D is for dampf the German word for smoke.
 
Hello KK. In North Georgia here. Yes, battery is the thing to have, makes life much easier.
 
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