U class,

[garrymartin]

An odd occurence. I have lurking in the back of my shed a second U class, in grey. I bought it as a project loco some 3 or 4 years ago. The seller on e-bay admitted it had had a hard life, but I eventually got it for £62. I cleaned it up as best as I could , it was a mess, lubed it up and gave it a run after waiting for 24 hours. It ran very eratically on anything less than full power. I put it in the shed & on the to do list & forgot all about it until today. I put it on the track it ran perfectly, even with 5 coaches on the back it smoothly crept up the gradients ! I am well surprised, so its been double headed U class this afternoon .

It Still looks somewhat well used.
Apologies for the image quality, not being into cameras, I forgot to check the lense was clean. It also only occured to me to take a picture after I had put the coaches away. ( Must do better!)
The above is copied from the coffee lounge , Mr ferrysteam suggested the fault was due to over lubrication , which I concede is possible , but unlikely, as I have lubed the other one to the same regeme with no problems.
Initially it appeared to be a contact/ conduction issue as if something was only partially performing as it should, smooth run then stutter like on dirty track ( but it wasn't as the black one was not effected at the same time.
Any thought's anyone?
Attached Image(s)http://www.gscalecentral.net/download.axd?file=0;160928 < Link To

 

[duncan1_9_8_4]

Thats a nice surprise then, for it to be just working like that. Looks good in grey!

 

[garrymartin]

Hi Paul, yes , grey coal in the bunker too ! It feels like I got a loco for free almost , but I am concerned it will revert to its old self. The valve gear looks about to collapse , & was rusted when I got it .

 

[duncan1_9_8_4]

Enjoy it while it lasts then hehe. Maybe if it does give up the ghost, can you take the cogs out and pull it, still giving the appearence of double heading?

 

[KeithT]

I have 5 of these and apart from one throwing a rod they all run beautifully - which is whey I have so many!
Perhaps when you lubricated it you softened some gunge on the back of the drivers where the pick-ups are and after a period of time it has cleared.
One of mine, an older green one, has also had a hard time prior to my getting it but it is running faultlessly with just one plunger pick-up and the pick-ups through the trailing truck. I have the replacement pick-ups ready but as it is the split gearbox type I will let it run until I absolutely have to deal with it.