Rivarossi Wiring

[LV fan]

Hello, new to forum. Need some assistance

I have an HO Rivarossi LV streamlined 4-6-2 that has never run well. I have narrowed the problem to the tender. The loco runs well with another Rivarossi tender.

I hooked a lead from a power pack to a wheel on the lead truck. When the other lead is put on the drawbar the loco runs. When touched to the tender axle wipers it runs. When touched to the tender wheels it does not run. When doing the same test on the other Rivarossi tender the loco runs when the lead is touched to the wheels.

I hope to get this engine working. It's special because my father was a machinist on the LV and worked on the prototype when it was converted from a basic pacific. Thanks

Steve

 

[UP2CSX]

Steve, the first test is to reverse the tender trucks. Both should have the insulated wheel on the same side and sometimes a truck, particularly the rear truck gets turned around, giving you poor performance from the tender power pickups. As I remember, the insulated wheel has a little ring of plastic around the inside so make sure these are all on the same side of the track.

 

[Cjcrescent]

Hello, new to forum. Need some assistance
...
I hooked a lead from a power pack to a wheel on the lead truck. When the other lead is put on the drawbar the loco runs. When touched to the tender axle wipers it runs. When touched to the tender wheels it does not run. When doing the same test on the other Rivarossi tender the loco runs when the lead is touched to the wheels.

...
Steve

Steve;

Another thing to look at is the wipers. RR wipers were notorious at times on having poor contact with the axles.
This is a simple repair job. Just remove the axles from the truck, one axle at a time, noting which side the insulation is on. Then you simply bend the wiper down so it can apply more pressure to the axle. Repeat this on each axle that is rubbed by a wiper. The next alternative is to remove the truck from the tender and then bend the wipers, again noting which side is "insulated".

Most of the Rivarossi's that I've had experience with, had a metal clip, similar to a retaining washer, that connects the axle to the wheel for power pickup, as except for the rim and the axle itself, the center is plastic.

There are two "final" alternatives. One is to replace the wheelsets with new wheelsets that have metal wheels and axles. Or replace the trucks with new ones. Doing either pof these last two are the most expensive, while just bending the wipers are the least.

 

[LV fan]

Wipers

Double problems found and fixed. I found the front truck was backwards and the wipers were not making contact with the axles. Both items taken care of and the loco runs, a bit jerky and runs best backwards.

This has to be the noisiest loco I have. I also have two Rivarossi 4-6-4s that run great and quietly.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Cjcrescent]

Check the lubrication. Plus clean the wheels and track. I never heard a "noisy" Rivarossi!

 

[LV fan]

The engine has not been run in ten or so years.

1. found dried yuck in gearbox
2. cleaned, greased and oiled
3. it now runs smoothly and quietly

Thanks for the help.

Steve

 

[Cjcrescent]

You're Welcome!