wheelspinning

[makapa]

Hi to All

My layout is 7ft by 2ft "N Gauge" and runs reasonably well, at either end are of course opposite semi circles, but one of them causes my loco's to spin like mad and barely makes it round the bend, most detrimental to slow speed running. dont understand this at all as i clean the tracks with one of those proprietry rubbers regularly. the loco most affected is my 9f, unsure which loco's have tyres etc any advice would be nice, nothing spins anywhere else on the track.
maka

[Newportnobby]

Hi Maka,

With a 2ft wide board your curves at each end are probably fairly tight radii and many Dapol 9Fs will not traverse anything under about 12" radius (although some folks have reported otherwise).
What other locos are affected please?

By the way, using a track rubber is OK but it does leave a fine dust on the track so I'd suggest using some IPA (not beer) to wipe the track clean after use of the rubber.

[D1042 Western Princess]

Hello and welcome, Makapa. 
If I read your post correctly you are having wheelslip with a 9F on a 180 degree 1st radius curve?
A little more detail would be helpful I think, such as length of train, make of loco etc.
The real problem is in the description 'model railway' - a miniature representation of a prototype and few real railways are expected to do what we, from necessity, ask our models to do as an everyday reality.
Fitting traction tyres might be an answer, or reducing the load on the train. Try pulling the train - minus loco - around by hand and see how much work you are asking the loco to do; I think it will surprise you.
Unless anyone knows differently I can only suggest less tight curves (if possible) or shorter trains.
I had a similar problem with other locos, and they were the only ways I found to solve the problems.
Good luck.

[Dr Al]

I'd suggest using some IPA (not beer) to wipe the track clean after use of the rubber.

And just be ultra careful not to get any IPA near your locos as it can take the paint finish off them 

Cheers,
Alan

[Newportnobby]

I'd suggest using some IPA (not beer) to wipe the track clean after use of the rubber.

And just be ultra careful not to get any IPA near your locos as it can take the paint finish off them 

Cheers,
Alan

Totally agree. This was the effect of a minute drop on a MK1 coach roof

[Dr Al]

Ouch nobby! At least you can get away with that as some roof "weathering".

I generally very rarely use IPA, and only when there is absolutely no stock on or anywhere near the layout. It's good for a kind of deeper clean of everything as compared track rubbers, so only needs done infrequently.

Useful if you want to paint strip a model though....

Cheers,
Alan

[Roy L S]

I'd suggest using some IPA (not beer) to wipe the track clean after use of the rubber.

And just be ultra careful not to get any IPA near your locos as it can take the paint finish off them 

Cheers,
Alan

Not great for traction tyres either.

Roy

[D1042 Western Princess]

I'd suggest using some IPA (not beer) to wipe the track clean after use of the rubber.

And just be ultra careful not to get any IPA near your locos as it can take the paint finish off them 

Cheers,
Alan

Not great for traction tyres either.

Roy

It seems the safest use for IPA is drinking the stuff  . Just be sure to get the right sort of IPA first though!

[MalcolmInN]

opposite semi circles, but one of them causes my loco's to spin like mad

Hi Ron,
a bit odd that only one semi causes this and not the other !
I wonder if the baseboard is perfectly level? causing the offending bend to be slightly up hill ?? Have you a spirit-level to check,

Does it happen both clockwise and anti- ?

[makapa]

Hi and a Big ty to all.

Simple solution really though passed me by, I had at the perhaps 12 large mixed freight behind my 9f and reduced this to 4 schweppes tankers, and voila NO Wheelspin any more, will try now with various combinations of rolling stock such as my custard and creams which i think would look nice, as i have only 4 of these i am hoping that this too will run smoothl;y, also avoids me buying more rolling stock as regards the limitations of these tight curves etc...

again many thanks to all for the suggestions, problem cured as they say.

[D1042 Western Princess]

Hi and a Big ty to all.

Simple solution really though passed me by, I had at the perhaps 12 large mixed freight behind my 9f and reduced this to 4 schweppes tankers, and voila NO Wheelspin any more, will try now with various combinations of rolling stock such as my custard and creams which i think would look nice, as i have only 4 of these i am hoping that this too will run smoothl;y, also avoids me buying more rolling stock as regards the limitations of these tight curves etc...

again many thanks to all for the suggestions, problem cured as they say.

Glad the problem was, sort of, sorted. But it still doesn't explain why the same train would go round the other 180 without problems.
Anyway, in future perhaps best to test your locomotives re loads to see what they can cope with, then lay that down as a maximum over the route.
It's what real railways do.
Meanwhile, with your 9F try adding a wagon at a time to see the biggest load it can take and don't forget, even big locos sometimes haul small loads.

[Bealman]

G'day from Australia, makapa, and welcome to the NGF! 

Interesting problem,  but it sounds like you are on the way to solving it.

Please ignore all of the former comments about IPA. Hick. 

I have used a track rubber for years, and it does indeed leave a dusty residue. I use the Fleischmann one rather than Peco.

Just keep the portable vacuum up to the track.  Hick

IPA... it ain't in beer.... is it? 

[mr bachmann]

knowing that a Trix 9F would have no difficulties , the problem could be of other manufacture ?

[D1042 Western Princess]

knowing that a Trix 9F would have no difficulties , the problem could be of other manufacture ?

Just a shame that the Trix 9F used the wrong boiler, but it does show how far the hobby has come over the years.

[oreamnos]

Glad the problem was, sort of, sorted. But it still doesn't explain why the same train would go round the other 180 without problems.

In my experience I would say this simply because it's a Dapol 9F in conjunction with the tight radius.   I have two of those locos and they both sit in their boxes in my cupboard because compared to my Mintrix 9F, they are rubbish.  Oh yes, they do look the part quite well.  But the proof is in the running...

To get more to the point, one of my Dapol 9Fs ran around 2nd radius (10.5" I think they are) curves much better heading in one direction than it did in the other.  Given my lack of enthusiasm for the loco (and how easily things broke off of them) I didn't spend a lot of time trying to sort out why.

Matt