Thank you ALL for your insightful replies!!!
I got so frustrated that I put it away. But after reading all of these suggestions I will get it back out and set up a smaller oval and pay attention to the details that are warned about here in these replies. Better now than when I start on my Christmas display!
3 of the suggestions involved 'fixes'. Can a guy that really doesn't tinker except for the common lubrication tasks really perform those fixes? 1) add a washer 2) change the wheel calibration 3) TinplateBob's sounded interesting: get right of the lift pin. Are those easily done? I'd like to try TinplateBob's idea since I never do remote uncoupling anyways.
thanks.
I'll check back in later, maybe tomorrow, after I examine the tender.
thanks - walt