Athearn/MDC 2-6-0's contact issues.

[SteveG6942]

Hey Y'all, I have 6 or so Athearn/MDC 2-6-0's and all but one or two have issues getting power. I can't see what's going on in the tenders however when I remove the coal loads and push down on the motors themselves the get contact and take off but release the pressure and they're dead a door nail. Not really sure how to fix them or if I can make changes to them when I add DCC. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[SteveG6942]

OK then, display models they be. Thanks y'all

[Army-Gandydancer]

These also use the locomotive drive wheels for electrical pickup. Check the connection between the drive wheels and the motor.

Next, have you double checked the pickups on the tender itself to see if they are bad?

Also how is the motor and pickups connected? Are they wired or just using tabs?

This is where a multimeter comes in handy.

Spookshow doesn't have a whole lot of info on the Athearn/MDC 2-6-0 Mogul. But it does get an A .

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/mdc260.html

[Stu]

Here was my experience with a 2-6-0: https://www.nscale.net/forums/showth...nternal-Wiring

They are devilish little fellas. Good luck.

[badlandnp]

It has been a while since I had mine apart. I don't remember just how the motor is attached, but I think it is with a clip. I would take the tender apart and then either use shims to more firmly force the motor against the frame, or tighten the screws. One thing that does help, is a tiny bit of electrical grease between the motor frame and the frame. I get mine at auto parts stores. Use the tiniest bit.