Advice please? Dapol won't but everything else will!

petercharlesfagg · September 24, 2014, 01:04:17 PM

Friends, not sure where I should post this query but here goes.

Think Dapol steamer 4.6.2 "William Shakespeare".

The locomotive has had a new motor fitted by Dapol, it has NOT, as yet, been run-in.

It works, after a fashion but VERY erratic i.e. OK for about 3 feet then stutters, then it's OK again. It stops at one turnout (point)!

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I have a stable of 8 Diesel type loco's and one reconstructed Class 101 fitted with the Tomytec 18M chassis.

Apart from 2 that I know are poor runners the diesels float around the layout without problems. The Class 101 had never run before since I rebuilt it, all I did was lubricate it and it worked like clockwork, no problems at all!

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Before anyone asks, the track and the wheels have been cleaned and between each loco. ALL of the others cross the problem point without hesitation and complete a full circuit?

Could it be those horrible little wires between the loco body and the tender?
Could it be that I have to return it to Dapol again?
Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?

Your comments would be appreciated, Peter.

DCCDave · September 24, 2014, 01:08:53 PM

Peter,

Sounds like you need to return it to Dapol (at Dapol's expense). Ask them to fix the problem and then TEST it before they return it. If you tinker yourself you'll be letting them of the hook as they'll try and blame you.

Pretty shoddy when the manufacturer can't even get a working loco to the customer.

Cheers
Dave

cjdodd · September 24, 2014, 04:11:02 PM

Is it DC or DCC ?

petercharlesfagg · September 24, 2014, 04:15:10 PM

Quote from: cjdodd on September 24, 2014, 04:11:02 PM
Is it DC or DCC ?

DC

cjdodd · September 24, 2014, 04:22:10 PM

ok that rules out my next suggestion then :-)

how about ...

have you got a bit of test track you can run it on instead of your main layout, or a rolling road ?

daveg · September 24, 2014, 05:11:16 PM

Peter, you have better things to do!

Assume it's new. In which case send it back from whence it came and ask for one that works.

Hattons and RoS have always been helpful when I've called them and reported the problem item. As mentioned get them to credit you with the return (signed for) postage!

Dave G

petercharlesfagg · September 24, 2014, 05:35:17 PM

Quote from: cjdodd on September 24, 2014, 04:22:10 PM
ok that rules out my next suggestion then :-)

how about ...

have you got a bit of test track you can run it on instead of your main layout, or a rolling road ?

Thankyou the answer to both questions is no!

Peter.

Geoff · September 24, 2014, 06:23:24 PM

I have just received a class 58 and I have just run it in but I am concerned over it as it runs fine it is very smooth but I have to turn the dial a third of the way before it moves, I have lightly oiled as advised before running in, all my other loco,s move off as soon as I turn the dial on my DC controler.

Should I be concerned?

Dr Al · September 24, 2014, 06:48:51 PM

On the Britannia it sounds like poor pickup - may be one or both of the tender-loco wires has come adrift or snapped.

On the 58 - this is fairly normal - they are low geared so the top speed it not nearly as high as other Dapol models and takes a larger turn of the control to therefore get them to a comparable speed to others.

HTH,
Alan

steve836 · September 24, 2014, 08:27:21 PM

If the poor running is position related it could be the track. I know you said it was clean, but steamers are more sensitive to uneven track than diesels, having a rigid wheelbase as opposed to bogies which can move to accomodate irregularities.

daveg · September 24, 2014, 09:09:09 PM

Sorry Peter.

I should have read your post properly but still send it back if Dapol have fitted new parts and it doesn't work.

I guess the advice offered by Dr Al and Steve is probably correct. Maybe if you have a multi-meter you can check the offending point?

Hope you get the problem resolved.

Dave G

petercharlesfagg · September 25, 2014, 08:57:46 AM

Thankyou everyone for all the advice.

I think I have found the reason for the problem.

Last night I sat down at a table with my magnifying light and my magnifying glasses and discovered what appears to be a 90 degree kink in one of those horrible little wires between tender and loco.

In the spares bag supplied there are (2) new ones, plus bits whose positions I have no idea where they go, all I have to figure out is how to remove the screws!

I bought a set of interchangeable screwdrivers but they do not go that small so I am almost back at square one!

Can someone inform me of what I need to order to get the screwdriver that fits?

Warmest regards, Peter

Dr Al · September 25, 2014, 09:01:10 AM

Quote from: petercharlesfagg on September 25, 2014, 08:57:46 AM
Can someone inform me of what I need to order to get the screwdriver that fits?

A set of small jeweller's screwdrivers (philips head) is what you need. For example:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-21-part-precision-screwdriver-set-n73kb?gclid=CjwKEAjw-o6hBRDOmsPSjqakuzYSJADR2V3S-Fnj5OX90zibnCEi1Kygg_NsuCmTvmet2DTB6rbt9xoCVd7w_wcB

though there are many other sets similar. Infinitely useful for a variety of things, so worth having anyway.

HTH,
Alan

daveg · September 25, 2014, 09:02:59 AM

Dr Al beat me to it!

Always worth investing in a quality set of jeweller's.

Dave G

steve836 · September 25, 2014, 09:14:43 AM

Try your local market. I picked up a set of jewelers screwdrivers, philips head, flat head and hex, about a dozen in all for £1 and have often seen the sets about since. May not be top quality, but with screws this small you don't need to use much force so I find them fit for purpose.