I have a Long Island 2-6-0 rugged rail railking steam engine that is chugging and puffing smoke intermittently. The smoke and chug are in sync but it hesitates and is not constant with the speed of the engine. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.
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what is your engine item number? 30-xxxx. so, we can help you!
Alan
Most likely a PS2 model given puffing and chuffing smoke. They key point there is, the timing of that is generated or timed based on the tachometer sensor on the motor. Typically the control board is in the tender, and the 10 pin PS2 tether is carrying the tach signal back from the engine to the board. Based on your symptoms of jerkyness and random chuff- clearly indicates some form of tachometer problem.
#1 check the engine by removing the shell, and examining the tack sensor and flywheel. Ensure the paint or tape stripes are intact and the correct distance from the sensor. Also ensure the flywheel is secure to the motor shaft and not loose. Again, this sort of sounds like it could be the tape coming loose or stripes worn off, or other failure- but also could be wiring below in #2.
While yours is not the same motor a general idea of the tachometer reader and striped flywheel
#2 Again, most likely is a PS2, and the earlier 10 pin tether on Rugged Rails Railking. This cable can fail from flexing. This would cause intermittent chuff and speed control loss. Some of these had a replaceable whip section (straight connector on one end, right angle on the other). MTH easily saw it was a wear and tear part.
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