Im new and having some problems

[NATAS]

Hi I just bought my 5 year old son a Life-Like train set. The engine is slowing down on some pieces of track. He open it a day after Christmas. I replaced one track and that corrected that section. I searched on here and nothing put the power pack is connected. Do I need to clean the track already? Or do I need to buy a better engine? I dont want buy a hundred dollar engine already for a 5 year old. If so would the Bachmann or Atlas or Athearn 45-70 engine work well? Also would the Atlas or Athearn 45-60 controller work well?(I know the power pack for the Life-Like is not that good) Thank you Dean

 

[Larry]

Sounds like you are having track connector problems. Are the track sections sectional, modular or flex track?

 

[NATAS]

Its power lock which snaps together with a built in roadbed. It seems like it snaps together well and it touches the rather large contacts. But?? I dont now how to tell for sure

 

[UP2CSX]

You should certainly try cleaning the track first. Wipe the rails down with some rubbing alcohol and then use a pencil eraser to burnish the track. The power pack, even for an inexpensive train set, should power one locomotive with no problem. If the track cleaning doesn't fix the problem, take an ohmmeter and measure the voltage at the power pack and each track section with the power pack open all the way and no locomotive on the track. Each section and the power pack terminals should be between 11 to 13 volts. If you find one or more that aren't, check to make sure the connections are tight and straight. The power-loc track has the tendency to feel like it's snapped in when it's actually a little cockeyed and makes poor electrical contact.

If you're not getting at least 12 volts at the track terminals on the powerpack, there's a problem with the powerpack. If you find tracks with low voltage, you may have just gotten a few bad tracks. You can call Life-Like and they should give you new track sections or a new powerpack under warranty.

 

[NATAS]

thank you guys so much I will try that. But is the Atlas Athearn or Bachmann engines for 45-70 better engines than the one that comes with the Life-Like train sets?

 

[UP2CSX]

Yes, almost any engine is of better quality than a Life-Like trainset quality engine. However, it should still run fine on your tracks. A different engine won't solve that problem.

 

[TaeOH]

I bought two N sets around Christmas and one of the engines (cheap Backmann) is very sensitive to the track connections. If one rail joiner is off, it will sputter or not run. The Life Like engine would have no problems. I would definitely make sure all of the rail joiners are connected correctly, just touching rail was not enough. The Bachmann would have issues if just one side of the rail joiner was out of alignment.

The Bachmann engine has become a very good track tester.

 

[Laidoffsick]

Don't forget to check the wheels on the engine. Not only does the track get dirty but the wheels do as well.

 

[jtudor]

Note that the Life-Like Power Loc track does not use rail joiners. It uses a much different type of connector to hold the track together and pass electricity.

I have seen some close up photographs of the connectors, but an hour og google searching didn't find them, The best photo I found is here.

 

[mike8693]

I used to use this track and had similar problems. What happened is the little copper connectors had come out. May want to check and make sure they are all there.

 

[NATAS]

I checked the voltage and it was fine. I cleaned the track and the engine wheels. That seem to cure the problem. Nothing came off the engines wheels even though they look dirty. I saw a slight hesitation so I will clean it again and I think ill buy another engine anyway just cant decide if I want a UP or Bnsf engine, I asked my son but he wants every engine thats made so he told me to pick. Thanks everybody.

 

[Laidoffsick]

Those engines are prone to dirty wheels in a short time. Kinda like the brass track of yester year, and if the track is a bit dirty..... forget it! Get you a brite boy and a better quality engine and you are set for hours of hassle free run time.

 

[jtudor]

I asked my son but he wants every engine thats made so he told me to pick.

Typical boy!


Just like all of us are. If I had the funds, I would probably have one or more of every engine made, especially the Steam Loco's.