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Issue with Standard Gauge Commodore Vanderbilt

NJCJOENJCJOEOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I'm working on a Lionel standard gauge Commodore Vanderbilt that was issued about 11 years ago. This engine had never been run. Put it on the track and when it started to move it was very jerky. I took it apart and made sure everything was lubed. Checked the gear box for dry grease but that was fine. Tried it again and it ran the same way.

 

I checked all the board connections. I looked for loose or pinched wires. Checked the pickup wires to make sure nothing was shorting out. Everything seemed to check out fine but it still doesn't run right.

 

It stutters when starting to move, running slow, or going slowly through a curve. Once on a straight way where it can pick up some speed, it runs smooth. When it stutters it also sounds like the two motors are fighting each other. I also tried a reset but that made no difference.

 

Any ideas what else to check?

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TS 1/48th scaleOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by 1/48th scale:

Joe, I own MTH Standard ga. . I don't own that Lionel engine. One of my engines had a problem right out of the box just as you describe. My problem was a cross threaded screw on the cross head. Once I filed it down the engine ran great. Why not try running the engine without any side rods. Also check that the wheels are meshed in sync. No binding. That should tell you if the problem exists in the running gear or the motor(s).   Take care,   148th 

NJCJOENJCJOEOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good idea. I gave it a shot. The problem with this engine though is that there are two motors which both power the center drivers. The center drivers have no flanges. The other four drive wheels get power through the connecting rods.

 

When I removed the rods, the center drivers just spun. Without all the drive wheels powering the engine, the engine didn't move. When I put the rods back I carefully checked everything and relubed the rods. Everything look good there.

 

Thanks for the idea.

H HOSO&NZOGR Forum Member

Don't know if this is the problem but maybe it just needs to be run-in so to speak. We had a few club members that bought standard gauge trains from that era and the longer they ran the better they ran. Could very well be a linkage problem since it sounds like the motors ran smooth enough without the linkage on.

 

Al

TS 1/48th scaleOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by NJCJOE:

Good idea. I gave it a shot. The problem with this engine though is that there are two motors which both power the center drivers. The center drivers have no flanges. The other four drive wheels get power through the connecting rods.

 

When I removed the rods, the center drivers just spun. Without all the drive wheels powering the engine, the engine didn't move. When I put the rods back I carefully checked everything and relubed the rods. Everything look good there.

 

Thanks for the idea.

Joe, One last thing. Grab both wheels on either side of the axle and see if you have any movement. I had a problem where a wheel loosened from it's axle. Hope all works out.   148th

NJCJOENJCJOEOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

There is no movement between the wheels on the same axle. I thought of the break-in period to but I'm hearing the sound from the motor(s) when this happens like the engine is being held while it's trying to move. When I manually push it with the power off, it rolls back and forth fine.

 

The odd part is that once it's moving it sounds and runs very nice. It sure sounds like a binding issue somewhere.

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