HO engine slips on switches

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HO engine slips on switches - Engine wheels spin and won't cross over the switches

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Tracy		#1 Posted : 24 July 2024 18:00:52(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2020(UTC) Posts: 5 Location: Ohio, Wauseon		For some reason my HO engines can't make it across the switches. I haven't used the layout for months and that appears to be the only issue.


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H0		#2 Posted : 24 July 2024 18:54:10(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 15,432 Location: DE-NW		On regular C track turnouts, wheels run on the flanges on one side and traction tyres no longer have contact on that side. This can be a problem for locos with traction tyres on one side only. Maybe oil sipped down to the traction tyres while locos were not used, leading to poor tractive effort.
		Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS

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rhfil		#3 Posted : 24 July 2024 20:54:07(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC) Posts: 675 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth		First thing I would do is soften the traction tire rubbers to give them more grip. There was a thread on here how to do that and I did with a loco that had the same problem and it worked. Not sure why it happens on switches but that seems to contribute to the problem. Also, any place your C-track is raised slightly by wires going under it.

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Tracy		#4 Posted : 24 July 2024 21:13:35(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2020(UTC) Posts: 5 Location: Ohio, Wauseon		Don't know if it matters, but I have M track. Thanks

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marklinist5999		#5 Posted : 24 July 2024 22:01:51(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,867 Location: Michigan, Troy		Certain small locos need more speed through turnouts because they are light. Clean your tracks and loco wheels after sitting idle a long time.


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Paul59		#6 Posted : 25 July 2024 09:57:44(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 25/08/2012(UTC) Posts: 250 Location: South East		Hi Tracy - when you say the locomotives can't make it across the switches do you mean that they stall due to losing electrical connection or that they tend to lose traction and wheelspin? Also does this happen with all of your locomotives or just some? I also use M track and I had this issue with a couple of locomotives where the wheels spin a bit as they cross some switches. The studs through the switches are slightly higher than the studs on plain track. This is so that the skate is lifted a bit to clear the rails that it has to cross without touching them. This creates a bit more friction between the skate and the studs whilst it is crossing the switch. I found that the locomotives that had the issue had the skates set a bit low. By bending the springs slightly to soften the downward pressure on the skate the locomotives ran across the points more easily. Märklin instructions state that the skates should be set to rest about 2mm below the wheel tread depth. Some locomotives I have found the skates set considerably lower than this which just causes extra friction, especially over switches. It's something worth checking. Also the skates can get a little bit sticky if they haven't run for a while so it's worth giving them a quick wipe with a cotton bud or similar. If your locomotives are losing electrical connection then try cleaning the wheels and the switches. The 'floor' of the frog grooves have metal strips to connect with the tips of the wheel flanges. A bit of lighter fluid or whatever on a toothbrush is quite good for cleaning these as the brush gets down into the groove well. Good luck Paul
		Marklin HO using M track. Now reverted to analogue as I find it has more character and is more fun...... and I understand it!

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dickinsonj		#7 Posted : 29 July 2024 01:09:21(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 05/12/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,796 Location: Crozet, Virginia		Originally Posted by: Paul59 I found that the locomotives that had the issue had the skates set a bit low. By bending the springs slightly to soften the downward pressure on the skate the locomotives ran across the points more easily. Märklin instructions state that the skates should be set to rest about 2mm below the wheel tread depth. I have been able to improve or even fix the running through turnouts for several problem locos following Paul's advice. How low they hang down and the slider being flat are both important for good running. Some of my locos have come from the factory with the wrong drop and bent sliders, so that is always something I check.
		Regards, Jim I have almost all Märklin and mostly HO, although I do have a small number of Z gauge trains! So many trains and so little time.

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Goofy		#8 Posted : 29 July 2024 11:18:01(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC) Posts: 9,273		Originally Posted by: Tracy For some reason my HO engines can't make it across the switches. I haven't used the layout for months and that appears to be the only issue. I too did had smilar problem and it was too light small locomotive. Heavier locomotives have no problems. Some of the locomotives also slips on the curves which have been noticed by of the members here and you can see problems in the Youtube videos too. To clean the rail does not help so much. Try to add extra weight on the locomotives and see what it happens.
		H0 DCC = Digital Command Control

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