Got the IHC 4-4-2 kitbash running, but have a issue .

Got my project IHC 4-4-2 running and tested it with a short reefer train. Noticed a hot smell after about 15-20 min running and motor was really hot. The thing is very slippery and spin wheels at will. So hopefully with a good cleaning of the commutator and gaps will solve the problem. Will clean and retest later this week.

 

Great looking engine!

 

Yep! Cool!

 

You should measure current draw.

Doug

 

I have ordered another Engine with the same motor so will try out that one. The heat and the smell of the motor leads me to beleave the magic smoke has or was about to come out. I do not think the build caused the problem as the engine lost about a 1/3 of it boiler weight and slips the drivers very easily. The motor came out of a chassis with a damaged gear so may have been hurt when I installed it. Thats the risk of kitbashing from used junk engines.

Just a question. What kind of amps should this thing pull when running?

 

Way less than 1 amp. If one of my locos draws anything over 1/2 amp, I get antsy.

Most engines will draw less than 1/2 amp, some way down around 1/5 amp or less.

 

Thank you for your help. I found the problem. With moving the motor the shell was interfering with motor and bending the chassis causing some binding I did notice it needed a higher than normal voltage to run at speed. In my egerness to test run , I missed that red flag. With out the shell mounted it started at lower power. But now short on space so will do a motor swap.

 

remounted the motor and runs much better now. However this thing is slippery ,5-6 cars is all it can pull. My layout is flat but some how I have a hill on it. Foam joint my bad . Had to cut the back 1/3 of the boiler weight off to balance the engine. With the stock weight it wanted lift the front end.

 

It is much harder adding weight to a 4-4-2 as the driver wheel base is so short. Still having slipping issues , but getting better.
here is the latest modification

 

Very nice. One of the reasons the prototype was replaced by the Pacific was that they were slippery, so you are enjoying prototype realism. Get yourself a short string of passenger cars and have fun.