Poor performance from engine

[Varleys]

Hi
I am unable to control the speed of my loco. It will only run at fast speed and keeps stopping at various points of the layout when trying to obtain a realistic speed.
Also the engine does not run smoothly and chugs.
Have checked the electrics and cleaned track as best as possible.
I was wondering if the engine is damaged or needs cleaning.
Regards Steve Varley

[Railwaygun]

Make of loco / type?

DC/DCC?

New / under warranty - return it

Clean track

Check track fishplate connections - a squeeze with a small pair of pliers may improve connections

Run a voltmeter round track ( or 12v bulb + pair of wires )

Do you have a short wheelbase loco in conjunction with Setrack points?
Notorious for problems

Older locos - clean wheels, remove body And remove XS grease

Clean wipers to wheel ( a slip of printer paper slipped between wiper & wheel works well

Clean track
Goto 1

Wait for an expert on your loco to turn up (or do an NGF search)

NickR

[Varleys]

Thanks for reply
Dcc jinty from Graham Farish

[Railwaygun]

Has it ever run well?

If not, return it to dealer.

It could be the loco or the decoder

If you have a DC controller and the old blanking plug from the loco ( it may be hidden in the box? YOu could remove the body, Andrew the L shaped DCC chip and replace it with the blanking plug.

Then run it on a loop of clean DC track and see how it runs.

If it's the same, clean wheels, vontacts, track.

If it's OK, replace DCC chip and run it after cleaning wheels etc. There may be a poor chip to loco contact and removing / replacing it may fix it.

If you have a spare chip, try substitution. If you don't refit body then any 6 pin chip will fit.

Review NGF DCC forum articles

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?board=8.0

Search poor DCC performance , Farish DCC Jinty problem, L shaped chips, and see what they say.

The  Bachmann controllers are not wonderful, Andrew the chips get mixed reviews.