Talking T Gauge

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

First of all, I am relatively new to T gauge. I have had it since december, but have been reading on it for a long time. At 13, I'm probably one of the youngest T-ers out there. Before I get comments on how young I am, I have been using HO since age three, and I have trains in MANY different scales. Now for my question: when I run my T, one powered car seems to drive faster than the other. When coupled together, it doesn't really matter, but occasionally they will uncouple and run apart. Do any of you (slightly ( Wink

)) more experienced modelers have an idea of what could be effecting their performance Question

Thanks,
_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.

David K Smith · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:24 am Post subject:

Not to worry, you'll not get any age-related remarks from me, and I'll wager none from anyone else, here, either.

Since the T Gauge sets are borderline toys (no disrespect), the quality is highly variable. I have six powered cars, and no two of them run at the same speed. There's also no way that I've found to tweak them. Lubricants will cause them to stop running, so don't go there.

One way to keep them from pulling apart is to make sure the faster car is behind the slower one.

I'm sure other members will have suggestions.
_________________
—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

oztman · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 34 Location: Sydney, Australia

Welcome TJ. What made you go into T gauge?

David, what's this about not lubricating? As a famous Oz politician used to say "Please explain".
_________________
Gary
Z scale, but very curious about T - and who knows?

B 67 · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject:

David K Smith · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:

Even the thinnest of oils will add drag to the geartrain. All of the parts are a Delrin-like plastic which should never require lubrication anyway. (Such plastics tend to have a slippery surface due to slow, continuous outgassing--also why they're virtually impossible to paint.)

I believe the variations in performance come down to the way the geartrain was designed, in particular the large gear that transfers motion to the wheels. The truck is positioned with springs and clips; there is no real "hard stop" for the truck's precise position relative to that large gear. This allows the truck to press against the large gear with an "ungoverned" degree of pressure, which is likely the primary source of speed differences.

Another contributing factor is that the motor has very little torque, and the entire drive is operating close to the motor's limits. When there is a lack of extra torque available, the slightest variations in friction and load will result in greater variations in motor speed. Since the geartrain is not a precision mechanism, lots of variations in performance are possible.

Of course, I could be all wet about this, but having tinkered with mechanisms for many years, this is my gut instinct. I wish I had the time to conduct a series of exhaustive tests; that said, it may all ber moot since it should not be long before we see a much-improved mechanism with the next generation to be released.
_________________
—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

Just for the record, I have never actually lubed any of the trains I have, despite that I have Lionel engines from the 20's and 30's. Don't get me wrong, it is not out of pure laziness, it's just that...

...well, I guess it might have something to do with it... Rolling Eyes

...oh all right, I'm too lazy. But I do know how. Sort of... Wink

_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.

oztman · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 34 Location: Sydney, Australia

Thanks for the explanation about the lubrication.
_________________
Gary
Z scale, but very curious about T - and who knows?

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

Actually, to answer Oztman's original question to me, I'm not quite sure how I stumbled upon T gauge. All I remember is that the two sites I'd look at were the Eishindo site and David's blog. By December, I was determined to have to get T gauge. Problem is, at Christmas, my dad bought me a train, and no track!!! I still don't quite understand what his thought process was behind that was, because he knew there was no track, but nonetheless I had to blow all my Christmas money on buying the track. Now all I have left for T is MAYBE $10... Crying or Very sad

...anyway, let's see, if my birthday is in october... Rolling Eyes

_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.