Biker boy 1955 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 First post! Iam sure this might have been asked before but I have tried to look via search!Is it necessary to run a new loco in these days?Many thanks in advance Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2e0dtoeric Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I do - medium speed for about half an hour - in each direction.Some say you should - others don't bother. It seems to depend on how hard you want the loco to work! (How many trucks/coaches behind it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Yes very important. If you have a continuous loop run the loco forward for 30 minutes at a moderate speed, then turn the loco round and run it in reverse for 30 minutes in the same direction. You can hear the loco getting quieter and see it gain speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker boy 1955 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 Thanks for the replies,l will do as instructed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Well with me (to sit on the other side of the fence!!!) When I buy a Loco - I tend just to do a review of it on my You Tube Channel - Jimyjames73 then it goes on to my display shelf with all my other Locos & Rolling stock - then may be once in a while I might pick up a few Loco & put them on my track & use then for a few days - so really they don't get used alot - that is why I don't bother to run them in - but in saying that if you are going to use a certain Loco alot they yes best to run it in as both Eric & W. T. D. say above!!! @ W. T. D. - Have you changed youur Avitar again or is it just me??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Even if you don't intend to run it for another year, run it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Hornby do not require running in but all other manufactures most definately do, and I find 30 minutes of gentle running on a rolling road first forward, and then reverse, does seem to be beneficial. In fact it is quite satisfying to watch a new model being run-in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker boy 1955 Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share Posted December 18, 2019 Once again thank you for the replies, I use a rolling road on my 5 inch live steam locos handy for setting up injectors etc.cheers Chris p.s Yesterday I bought myself a early Christmas present a Hornby Tornado express train set, very impressive last time I had a electric train set was 50 years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Very nice. I would have to contradict LC and say ALL locomotives, irrespective of make require some 'bedding in' or running in.I don't believe the Hornby tolerances are as tight as some other marques which may give credence to 'no running in required', but I've always noticed locomotives running better, smoother, and certainly more consistently at very slow speeds after some moderate running. I'll admit that that 'what'll she do?' nearly always stops me from limiting to half throttle.I accept I seldom see much increase in maximum speed after some running in, as you definitely would have done 30+ years ago, but times, and motors, have changed - it's the slower speeds and smoothness which benefits. Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I think Hornby don't bother to say run the model in as they assume it will be done as a matter of course. I have always done so as did my dad with my first set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I wasn't saying that you should not run in Hornby locomotives, simply that in the leaflet that comes with a new locomotive makes no mention of it. I do actually run in all new locomotives when I get them and find it improves the performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I agree with you LC, at no point did you say Hornby don't need running in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Sorry once again, and we're all friends here, but you did write this:'Hornby do not require running in but all other manufactures most definately do ...' Anyway, if you do break-/run-in the locomotives, that is excellent practice as we all know ... Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 True that Hornby don't make it a requirement according to their instructions. Like most of their instructions they are rarely updated. Time they were edited I reckon. 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithp1707821843 Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 I have another question about running in, following on from these replies.Does it make any difference if the loco is a digital model? I am assuming not, but wanted to check in case you have to do something different with the digital side.Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 No difference.It is the motor and the mechanical gear transmission, wheels, couplings and bearings etc that you are 'running in'. Not the controlling electronics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelnut19 Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 I only have an analogue set-up but I recall that I have seen it recommended somewhere to run DCC locos gently for a few minutes on analogue before running them on DCC. Sorry if I am wroing! However, NEVER run an analogue model on DCC: the motor will burn out in seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 I seem to remember seeing this advice, but I cannot recall where. It seems wise to check the loco runs OK on DC before fitting it with a chip if you are fitting the chip yourself, although locos already factory fitted should work straight from the box (or at least I would hope). Certainly NEVER run a DC loco on DCC before you have fitted a chip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithp1707821843 Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 OK thanks.AS I say my controller is an old 1990's controller, so not digital in any way. The new loco is DCC ready, but I wont be using it on a digital layout.I assume I can still run the trains on my existing controller with no problems - even though they are digital ready.Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelnut19 Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 With regard to the old controller, some apparently do not like the latest motors (core less?) but 1990s is not that old. I am sure someone here can advise further.With regard to DCC and DC, I have found on a couple of occasions that DCC fitted locos do not run very well on analogue layouts. However, removing the chip and fitting a blanking plug solves the problem. Obviously, in buying such locos I have not paid over the odds since the chip is redundant for my case. Also, chipped locos sometimes require more current to run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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