Author Topic: Loss of power at track (Read 3255 times)

736plane · « **on:** November 23, 2020, 08:46:02 pm »

I have Lionel 736 Berkshire and Lionel tw 175 watt transformer. Just started to operate after many years of not using. Replaced electrical cord due to rot. When I run train ( engine, tender, Crane and caboose cars), train does not run as fast as it should. Measured voltage at pins A and U without train on track I get 18.2 volts. With train on track I only get 13.5 volts. Does anyone have any suggestion?
Thanks

TrainLarry · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2020, 10:24:18 am »

Welcome to the forum!

It is natural for the no-load voltage of a transformer to be higher at a specific throttle setting and to be lower under load at the same throttle setting.

You may need to service the locomotive - clean and oil the motor bearings, grease the gears and oil the wheel/axle bearings. Oil the wheel/axle bearings of the rolling stock also.
Clean all the wheels and roller pickups with Naphtha. Clean the track with Naphtha also.
Make sure the track pins are clean and free of dirt and rust, and are a tight fit in the tracks.

Trains in need of lubrication will run slower and need more voltage to run.

Labelle lubricants are ideal for our trains.
https://labelle-lubricants.com/shop/kit-with-one-each-102106-and-107-for-ho-o-s-lionel-and-lgb-garden-railway-size-trains/

Larry

736plane · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2020, 01:53:56 pm »

I have previously performed all those steps, it didn't resolve my problem. I put my train on a friend's track with my tw transformer the train still runs slow. If I use his Lionel 150 watt transformer the train runs really good. I removed cover off my transformer and checked each connector to case for resistance. Found wires not grounded. If I plug in the transformer and measure voltage from pin U to the metal part of case I read 10.3 volts. I think I should read 0 volts. But I can't find any shorts. If I had short I believe that the breaker would open.
Any thought
Thanks
Denny

TrainLarry · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2020, 05:16:47 pm »

The transformer is bad. You should not be getting any voltage on the metal frame of the transformer.
Not all combinations of posts are protected by the circuit breaker.

Larry

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Author Topic: Loss of power at track (Read 3255 times)

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Loss of power at track

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