Dissapointing Loco.

[Loobabe]

I recently returned a Master of the Glens/Cock o the North loco as the motor was not performing as I expected. The replacement as exactly the same.....4to5 volts required just to get the three pole motor turning. Top speed about two thirds of other locos. This model deserves a 5 pole motor. The cheap and nasty three pole is useless.

[Yelrow]

two comments, firstly, you have to run it in for about half an hour, as varying speeds. Secondly, i have no idea, if this is the same motor, as the P2, CON, no doubt someone will tell me, but if it is, it pulls for england, and is very quick, or at least, mine is. john

[walkingthedog]

Needs to be run in for half an hour in both directions at a moderate speed. How fast is fast. A scale speed of 70 mph is not very fast in OO. 

My mate has the same loco and it is very powerful.

[Fazy]

Today's motors are miles better then the old motors of yesterday. 

 

Yes the five will have slightly better slow running and a slightly higher tork.

But with the use of dcc the gap between the two is closed to almost impossible to notice if both motors are new and using the similar gearing. 

Also 3 poles are cheaper to build in a smaller size. Also 3 poles rave faster compared to a 5pole on the same voltage. 

[Michael_A]

I have the TTS Cock o' the North... one word..... superb!

OK it's DCC,but can't fault the slow running, I can have it running so you can only just see the wheels turn, and top speed is prototypical.

One thing to bear in mind is that all locos DO need running in. Really does make a huge difference.

[Fishmanoz]

The motor also has a flywheel which tends to compensate for any difference between the 3-pole v 5-pole and as borne out by the comments on performance.

[Loobabe]

Thanks for the comments guys. I have done the running in thing and still live in hopes. Who knows it may yet leap into life. 

[WilliamDavid]

I thought it was accepted that a number of these locos have iffy motors.

My TTS Tornado creaks and groans at slow speed, and is not as fast as other locos.

[Yelrow]

Iffy motors? my TTS Tornado, is great, not as great as the P2 CON, but a fine example. None of my recent buys have motor problems. john

[walkingthedog]

You keep saying it's not as fast. You shouldn't really run locos fast. Try and keep to a scake speed. At full volume most locos are doing a scale speed of well over 200mph. 

[tersono]

My P2 and Tornado both run exceptionally well once run-in...

[WilliamDavid]

You keep saying it's not as fast. You shouldn't really run locos fast. Try and keep to a scake speed. At full volume most locos are doing a scale speed of well over 200mph. 

I'm saying it is not as fast as my other equivalent locos for a control setting.. 

If others have it running different to mine, it indicates iffy motors.

The OP has the same with his CoN,.

[walkingthedog]

If two locos that are exactly the same ran at different speeds I'd say there was something amiss but similar/equivalent  locos may have different gearing or slightly different diameter wheels. 

[Nick_]

You keep saying it's not as fast. You shouldn't really run locos fast. Try and keep to a scake speed. At full volume most locos are doing a scale speed of well over 200mph. 

Except for last year's GWR 42xx heavy tank which, because of its low gearing, at full voltage manages a scale 45-50mph (which is perfect because 45-50mph is about the maximum the full size version did)

[flyingfox4475]

My P2 does not perform very well it launches if off when you try to start it but it pulls for England, 15 or more Pullman coaches. I would like to be able to start it slowly instead of the launch start once the power is turn up to near max. Once it going you can slow it and get a very slow stop. I have a 5 pole ready to fit but am seeing if time will improve it. I did run it in for a hour in both direction and have tested it on a rolling road. Last time I used it the motor seemed to be run ng slower once warmed up. I am keeping a eye on it as, I think there may be more trouble along the line.. I remember when blue box company brought out the A1 peppercorn, there was problems with that motor which they recalled them.

[GWR LNER fan 4472]

Just asking, what is 'running in'? I haven't come accross it before, maybe that's why my locos (Railroad inparticular) don't run as well as I'd like them to. Ta.

[walkingthedog]

Run the loco without any wagons for about 30 minutes in both directions at a medium speed. Don't touch the controller just let the loco run. It lets the motor loosen up and the gears bed in. Also allows the bearings on the axles to loosen up. As it runs usually you will notice the loco gets faster and quieter. 

 

Bachmann suggest 1 hour in each direction but I think 30 minutes is enough. 

 

Years ago if you bought a new car or had a new engine or gearbox fitted you had to run the car in. Think it was not over 30mph for about 500 miles. Can't really remember. 

 

 

 

[GWR LNER fan 4472]

Thanks WTD, I will give it a go...

[poliss]

Whatever you do, do NOT leave the room when you're running locos in, or at any other time for that matter.

Locos have a built in sensor that tells them when you leave the room. That's when they decide to come off the track.

[walkingthedog]

That is a fact poliss. I usually run in my locos in when I'm fiddling about doing something else, cleaning some wheels or building a model of the Forth rail bridge out of sponge fingers etc.  

[GWR LNER fan 4472]

I never leave my railway room when trains are running, not after Tornado lost a buffer about 2 years ago, even if there's someone there to look after them! I have a double track main line loop + a small single track branch line loop so I can have three going at once (I'm thinking Evening Star, Olton Hall and my sister's little 0-4-0 Rothery Industries (my newest locos)).