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Railpro Controlled by DCC
nodcc4me:
Chris, how does the SD60 run by itself? If you are having the same erratic running problems, then it is most likely an internal problem. If it runs well alone then there may be a setting adjustment that you haven't already tried, like the maximum current value?
TwinStar:
--- Quote from: MRL Trains on November 29, 2017, 12:53:14 PM ---Well.....I spent my time last night installing my 2nd module (LM-3S) in an older Athearn RTR SD60 that had a WOW decoder. It was my WOW experimenter to see if I wanted to go down that road. The sound was great but the motor control was awful, especially for consisting. So it was an easy pick for converting to RP.
Anyway, after installing the LM-3S, I spent the rest of the night testing/playing with RP consisting using the CI-1 and simulator throttle. I had problems getting smooth starts when setup as DPU (One lead loco and 1 pusher behind 15 cars). I would slowly increase the throttle and eventually the loco would "jump" into action. Sometimes the pusher moved first. Other times they would jump at the same time, or the slack would run in and out a few times until they settled on the same speed. I tried all different settings with Acceleration, Deceleration, and load. My final conclusion is that the Athearn SD60 needs some work. It's a real growler so I'm guessing there are some drive train issues. Lots of "stiction" that need to be overcome to start moving. Tonight I'm going to move the LM-3S into a Proto2000 SD60 (a proven smooth runner) and see if it works better. The only other thing I could think of is the simulator (rolling the mouse wheel) does not have the fine control the HC has? I plan to purchase an HC soon but for now it's only the CI-1 and computer.
Hopefully I'll time to run those "DCC functions in consist" tests tonight too. I got too sidetracked last night :(
Stay tuned!
Chris
--- End quote ---
Chris:
I used to have an SD40-2, a GENSET, and a GP-15 power set that I would switch UP's Centennial yard in Ft Worth, TX with. I can assure you that the real 1:1 locos will bump into each other before they settled into load sharing the cut. It was absolutely horrific if the hostlers had cut in a road jack for transfer to the next yard. And it was even more exciting when the GENSET (ex-U boat) would burst into flames.
Your Athearn might have issues but you can expect them to bump a bit when powering up even with quality scale power.
KPack:
Chris - I've had the same problems with Athearn in particular. I've found that if they make a lot of noise then there is way too much friction. I've tried Nano-Lube, but honestly I like something a little heavier. I have some plastic gear oil that is fairly thick. I have to change the start voltage and Full Load Motor Current after I use it, but it quiets the gears right down and makes the locomotive run smooth as butter.
The HC-Sim doesn't have as fine of adjustment as a normal HC does, but it's likely not contributing much to the roughness you are seeing in the SD60. That's a locomotive drivetrain problem.
-Kevin
KPack:
--- Quote ---And it was even more exiting when the GENSET (ex-U boat) would burst into flames.
--- End quote ---
Lol, that's awesome. Can we model that in scale?
TwinStar:
--- Quote from: KPack on November 29, 2017, 01:59:33 PM ---
--- Quote ---And it was even more exiting when the GENSET (ex-U boat) would burst into flames.
--- End quote ---
Lol, that's awesome. Can we model that in scale?
--- End quote ---
It happened routinely. RJ Corman had a rep in the yard full time fixing the half dozen or so that we had. The State of Texas had sunk a ton of taxpayer money into the program. Fortunately the SD40's just kept loading and making power. I finally quite stopping the train when they went into Smores mode and it pissed the yard master off to no end.
I suppose an LED and one of the six pin outputs could work...
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