ModelRailroadForums.com is a free
Model Railroad Discussion Forum and
photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
I have a strange problem. An engine will not back backwards. I can change the direction switch, turn the engine around, and it goes forward. I tried other engines, they reverse and go forward just fine. Not a transformer problem. I'm stumped.
Steve
If DC and your engine has constant lighting, a diode could be open.
It is DC, old transformer. The engine has no lights
That was a good test you did, putting it on the opposite direction. Tell us more about the locomotive, what brand and model is it?
If your lights stay on when you’re stopped (well maybe a little dimmer) then the engine has a feature called constant lighting. This is usually implemented by sending the motor current through a diode array. If one of those diodes has failed as an open circuit, it will do exactly as you describe.
Do you have a voltmeter that can measure current? If it is drawing zero current in reverse, it would definitely be an open circuit of some kind.
If it's drawing current and not moving, it's a motor/drive chain binding issue. Have you taken it apart to look?
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website
(Learn More Here)
