cessfordalan Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 I have been asked to assist with a secondhand N gauge model railway purchased by a neighbour for his grandson. Nothing was running when I arrived but after a rail top polish a loco ran.Oh joy I though and tried to change the Peco turnouts and motors] without success. On close inspection the motors look to be wired correctly and connected to a Gaugemaster C.D.U and controller transformer. I managed to identify A turnout and corresponding centre sprung switch and physically move the point blade over and using the switch it sprung back but it does not work the other way. Several other motors behaved the same way and some not at all. I am totally flumoxed . Dare I say thank you for all your help in advance. Regards Alan [Cessfordalan] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLT 0109 Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 If you disconnect the point motor physically from the point (but keep it connected electricall), you can test the motor without a load. If it works smartly, then the trouble is either friction in the point itself or mis-alignment of the motor with the point. If the disconnected motor does not operate well, then it could be the rod sticking as it passes through the solenoids. A tiny amount of suitable oil on the rod may work - but make sure it is suitable for plastics and very thin. If the point itself is sticking, a little of the same oil on the sleepers across which the switchblades move, may cure it. I have had trouble after ballasting, when the PVA has run down the pin onto the rod; a little oil has cured it. Prevention being better than a cure, I now remove the pioint motors before applying glue to ballast and refit them afterwards. Harold. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cessfordalan Posted March 30, 2019 Author Share Posted March 30, 2019 Hi Harold Not wishing to advertise any particular product do you think Peco Electrolube oil would do? Thanks for the suggestion Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Hayter Posted March 30, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 30, 2019 (edited) I would refrain from using Electrolube in an application close to electrical coils in case it created a short. I would use sewing machine/clock oil or failing that WD 40 not really an oil as such but a cure to may problems. Edited March 30, 2019 by Andy Hayter 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted March 31, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 31, 2019 3 hours ago, Andy Hayter said: I would refrain from using Electrolube in an application close to electrical coils in case it created a short. I would use sewing machine/clock oil or failing that WD 40 not really an oil as such but a cure to may problems. Don't use WD40 as it often attacks some types of plastic. Hard to judge as it often takes time. 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted March 31, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 31, 2019 7 hours ago, cessfordalan said: I have been asked to assist with a secondhand N gauge model railway purchased by a neighbour for his grandson. Nothing was running when I arrived but after a rail top polish a loco ran.Oh joy I though and tried to change the Peco turnouts and motors] without success. On close inspection the motors look to be wired correctly and connected to a Gaugemaster C.D.U and controller transformer. I managed to identify A turnout and corresponding centre sprung switch and physically move the point blade over and using the switch it sprung back but it does not work the other way. Several other motors behaved the same way and some not at all. I am totally flumoxed . Dare I say thank you for all your help in advance. Regards Alan [Cessfordalan] You say the layout is 2nd hand. Have you checked the resistance of the coils with a multimeter? If the layout has previously been used WITHOUT a CDU, maybe some coils are damaged. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobjUK Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, kevinlms said: Don't use WD40 Agreed. I don't know about the attacking plastics part, but WD40 is a very viscous oil plus a solvent. It's not in any way suitable for small parts where low friction is essential. Edited March 31, 2019 by RobjUK 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff park Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 How long, and where, was the layout stored before it was bought? There is a possibility that the electrolytic capacitors in the CDU have failed. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tarifa Posted March 31, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2019 9 hours ago, kevinlms said: You say the layout is 2nd hand. Have you checked the resistance of the coils with a multimeter? If the layout has previously been used WITHOUT a CDU, maybe some coils are damaged. A CDU boosts the supply, not reduce it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted March 31, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 31, 2019 1 minute ago, tarifa said: A CDU boosts the supply, not reduce it. I don't understand this comment - the reducing part. If solenoid point motors are used without a CDU and the power isn't removed in time, the coil can become cooked. A CDU does 2 tasks, 1/ it prevents the coil from cooking, by limiting the time the power is applied for. 2/ It also increases the voltage, (which is what you were alluding to, by saying it boosts the power). 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLT 0109 Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 17 hours ago, cessfordalan said: Hi Harold Not wishing to advertise any particular product do you think Peco Electrolube oil would do? Thanks for the suggestion Alan Alan, What I use is Hob-E-Lube Lite Oil by Woodland Scenics. Mine has the code HL654. Harold. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tarifa Posted March 31, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2019 7 hours ago, kevinlms said: I don't understand this comment - the reducing part. If solenoid point motors are used without a CDU and the power isn't removed in time, the coil can become cooked. A CDU does 2 tasks, 1/ it prevents the coil from cooking, by limiting the time the power is applied for. 2/ It also increases the voltage, (which is what you were alluding to, by saying it boosts the power). I don't understand your comment ???. CDU's do not reduce power as per your point 2, they are designed to boost it, e.g. to throw a Peco or similar solenoid point motor that requires additional volts, however the "green" Peco solenoid will operate with 12 volts. A step down device such as a transformer is needed to reduce power. The importance of the point switching device needs to be considered and highlighted, a biased off switch is needed to avoid cooking the solenoid once it is thrown. An on/off switch will probably "cook" the solenoid as there is no means of cutting off the power. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cessfordalan Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Good Evening All Thank you for all your helpful advice, I will try and put it into practice sometime next week on my next visit. One point however. How do you check the resistance in the coils I must admit my electrical knowledge is thin on the ground but I do have a multi meter. Can someone explain how in simple language Regards Alan[In the Sunny Outer Hebrides] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertW Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Hi Alan, You can check the resistance of the coil by setting the meter to its lowest resistance setting, which will be indicated by an omega symbol. If you place the first probe on a connection to one side of the switch, and the other on the common connection if you are using a Hornby version, or the solder tag at the same end of the motor but on the opposite side if you are using a peco version. If you can post a photo of the motor, I can confirm the terminals which need probing. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Kind regards Rob 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 On 01/04/2019 at 01:30, HLT 0109 said: Alan, What I use is Hob-E-Lube Lite Oil by Woodland Scenics. Mine has the code HL654. Harold. I use Wahl hair clipper oil. Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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