Model Railway Forum

Hi all,

I'm sure this is a common problem, but I have a couple of DCC loco's that need a push/ nudge to get them moving. Once they move they run lovely, so I cant see that it's dirty track.

One example I have is a N gauge, Graham Farish Class 03.

What I have done is...

Fully stripped down the loco, pickups are touching where they should, I have tested with a Voltmeter, that the correct wheels, communicating with the correct ones. Slightly oiled the gears, and even tested the motor(this is a coreless one) away from the chassis. Also checked the wheels all move ok, without the motor in as well. All appears to be ok. Works fine in both directions when it does get moving, and just had around my layout for about 10 laps.

Anything else I could try. What about the starting voltage option on the decoder? Never really understood how that works. If I have the loco going going in one direction, then change direction, slows down, but doesn't move again until I nudge it again. Thanks in advance.

Edit: It's also A dapol imperium Decoder(micro)

You seemed to dismiss dirty track fairly quickly. Once running the logo will have a degree of inertia and the motor may have a flywheel .
Did you clean the track, wheels (tyres and pickup surfaces) and the pickups themselves?

Thanks, yes cleaned all the track, the wheels are spotless as have cleaned them and the pickups, and tested other loco’s round the track, those work fine. I have quite a lot of drop wires installed and also test the track with a voltmeter to check voltage coming through ok

Usually if one has to nudge a loco to get it to go and then it runs, it is not a DCC issue but a wheel to pick-up issue or a mechanical sticking issue, or possibly a motor issue, though with a motor issue there will be other tell take signs...

I have an n-gauge steam era loco on which the valve gear and linkages occasionally bind at start up but once running will go on forever.

Richard