Post a copy of this on the "motors and drive systems" forum. I am sure someone will be able to help. If not send it back and get a refund?

Kieran,

I assume that this is a tender drive Hornby Duchess. If so I suggest you look at the following:

Check that the wheels are properly "quartered". All of the wheels on one side should be either 90 degrees ahead or behind the wheels on the other. Because the wheels are a press fit sometimes they become misaligned and cause the valve gear to bind. The tender drive keeps on trucking but the wheels on the loco remain fixed.

Check that the coupling rods are not fouling the connecting rod. Best way to do that is take the body off and run the chassis slowly along a piece of track and watch the connecting rod. Gravity should keep it all reasonably aligned but sometimes you need to slightly bend the connecting rod away from the coupling rod.

Check that the valve gear is properly fixed; if you run the chassis along the track any problems should be self evident.

I have a couple of these Hornby chassis and as you can tell I have had similar problems getting it to run true.

I will take one out and have a look to see if anything else springs to mind!

regards

Dave D

hi Dave

yeah it is a tender driven loco its a tri ang i think

ill have to give some of this a try when am next able to always fun to take something apart

thanks for the reply and if i get it fixed ill let you know

thanks again

Kieran