08 Shunter tweaks

[Rallymatt]

As lovely looking as the 08 is there a few areas that benefit from attention.

Pick ups can need adjusting so they stay in contact with the wheel back through full axle travel. Just cleaned mine after about a week, cotton bud was a black as this shunter will be when the paint arrives!

Using a Gaugemaster Ruby 6 pin decoder, I have made a few adjustments.

CV2 (start voltage) to a value of 4 helps it get going better (that’s not 4volts)

CV3 (Acceration rate) 40

CV4 (Deceleration rate) 20

CV5 (VMax) 120 (realistic top speed)

CV5 (VMid) 70

128 speed steps and she is super smooth.

I think it’s a bit of a lightweight, so a good feed of lead shot and glue applied onto cab floor up to windows and a bulkhead over end of motor behind the radiator and she is a porky 69g!

A fix for a problem a few have mentioned, coupling heights. These are adjustable. Remove the contact keeper plate (good time to clean and adjust if needed). Carefully push the kinematic coupler to one side, don’t force it out of you risk losing the return spring!!!! Under the NEM pocket there is a small flap, ease this down (if coupling is riding too high) with a pin or fine tweezers and this sets the coupler height. When you replace the contact keeper plate, ensure the tail end of the kinematic assembly locates flat and is sandwiched by the keeper plate. As usual I have replaced the hooks for Tillig ones, but that’s because I use an uncoupling tool.

[96RAF]

Beware of trapping lead shot in a confined space with PVA glue as it generates a gas, expands and can distort plastic bodywork.

[Rallymatt]

Cheers Rob, I used Rocket Card Glue which I understand doesn’t cause this ….. if it does my 08 will be wider as well as heavier!

[Fishmanoz]

With those CV3/4, are you using it as a shunter?

[Rallymatt]

Yes Fishy, in combination with the very restricted speed it is a more realistic movement, these were know more for slow and steady.

[Fishmanoz]

Thanks RM.

[ateshci]

Beware of trapping lead shot in a confined space with PVA glue..

That's why I'm using tungsten welding rods cut to size, e.g. from here:

https://gas-uk.co.uk/index.php/welding/tig-welding-products/tungsten-electrodes

 

 

[Rallymatt]

mr2002, your calculations are spot on. I have set my CVS to achieve a racing 30mph max, until I have wired all the live frogs on the points it helps it get across on the longer Peco ones

[Fishmanoz]

Interesting re frogs. I’m finding mine will cross the Hornby points without hesitation on DC.

[Rallymatt]

Fishy, it’s not all the time but odd time. The Peco track, particularly their med radius points, have quite an elongated frog and something short like the 08, you can spot a dip. Peco points are pre wired to have a switchable live feed to the metal frog and I have the switching in the DCC Concepts accessory controllers so it’s just a bit of wiring. Sadly this decoder doesn’t support a stay alive, I like the set up the chap I posted link to re sound on 08 has done, might see if the HM DCC decoder will support the micro capacitors he used, only a couple of seconds but that should be enough for most things

[Andrew-372848]

Firstly apologies for posting to this old thread, but I just wanted to express my thanks to the OP (Rallymatt) for highlighting the potential issues with the wheel contacts on the 08.

I’d just received my 08 and was really disappointed with the running reliability and heading towards despair when I came across this thread. The loco could barely complete a full circuit of the track without stuttering and failed to clear any set of points at anything like its true scale speed. However, after a good clean and slight adjustment of the contacts it is now running like a dream and can manage the points with ease, particularly crucial for a shunter.

I have to say this forum is a great source of information and a credit to those who so readily share their experiences and advice for those, like me, who are new to the hobby. Many thanks!

[Rallymatt]

It’s a team effort and it’s all about enjoying the hobby. I do have to say congratulations on finding the thread, the search function on the forum isn’t the best 😁 👍