Talking T Gauge

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

Is it just me or is that thing impossible to get to work?
I've followed the intructions (both in Japanese and English) and it never seems to work for me.
Is it a tempremental thing?

Ian
_________________
I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/

JohnDMJ · Joined: 21 Sep 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Hampshire - UK

It depends on what you mean by 'not working'.

True the sticky cleaning sheets don't adhere to their carriers very well, but at least they can be coaxed into the flanges when the coach is placed on it.

True, also, that the electrical contact between the controller's cable and the metal pads can be temperamental, as it is with the track sometimes. Don't try bending the copper contact strips BTW; they're only thin and break easily.

True, as well, that the coach only has one pickup bogie and one powered! I'm presuming you have the coach the correct way round javascript:emoticon(' Wink

')

I'm going to see if I can solder wires directly to the two pads before I stick the wheel cleaner down to a corner of my baseboard.

J Wink

ntpntpntp · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 3 Location: South East England

I found the supplied wheel cleaner works reasonably well on the powered bogie.

For cleaning the non-powered wheels on both the power car and end cars I use my trusty N gauge Minitrix wheel cleaner (fine brass wire brushes) and just gently push the wheels back and forth - brings them up a treat.

Surprising how much dirt builds up on the wheels.

Also remember to clean the track! A piece of scrap paper will do the job well. I have an electronics grade contact cleaning block (like the "track rubbers" familiar to modellers in the large scales, but this one is softer and finer) which also does a good job. Remember that if you handle the rails you need to clean off the grease deposited by your fingers!

Nick

JohnDMJ · Joined: 21 Sep 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Hampshire - UK

B 67 · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:39 am Post subject:

I've been using my wheel cleaner, and apart from being fiddly, I've found it to work well. In fact my first pair of cleaning papers are probably due for replacement now. It looks like they are just self-adhesive labels with marks in the right place to fold them. When I run out, it should be easy to make my own - if Eishindo haven't released them as a spare by then.

As both of my controller to track cables are semi-permanently attached to the layout, so I had to solder the wires to the underside of the magnets. No real problems getting the powered wheels clean. Cleaning all the unpowered wheels is a bit more complex. Obviously you're supposed to move one slider at a time - and you can't really tell if the wheels are rotating or not. So are you cleaning right around one wheel, or are you just cleaning the same part of a wheel over and over. Laughing

Given that the manufacturer seems to be serious about improving things, I'm sure it's just a matter of time until they come up with something better. If someone doesn't beat them to it.

I did get the wheels all clean though, so that was the main part. One car had a bad wobble as it ran, and this was all because of a tiny speck of gunk on a wheel. Unfortunately the gunk returned quickly.
_________________
Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.