Sentinel shunter

[Forfarian]

Hi guys
I have a DCC Sentinel which goes in fits and starts, the contacts are clean and touching the motor runs well in both directions when run free, but as soon as it has to drive the gears it stops, runs intermittently for 10s then stops.
The wheels and gear are free when turned by hand. Has anyone else had any problems with one of these locos?.
Is the motor under-powered?
Do i need to shim the motor to give a bit more play between the worm drive and the gearing?

[brian1951]

The make and model no would help members answer your question.

[Forfarian]

Sorry senior moment
Hornby R3179 Class 4wDM 0-4-0 Sentinel Shunter in ESSO Bitumen Plymouth red
This one.

[brian1951]

Is the loco new ? Did you fit the decoder ? Has it been run in on DC ? If it was on my workbench the first thing i would do is remove decoder and test loco on DC. If it runs ok on DC, it then points to a decoder problem.

[Forfarian]

Is the loco new ? Yes
Did you fit the decoder ?Yes
Has it been run in on DC ? Yes
If it was on my workbench the first thing i would do is remove decoder and test loco on DC.
If it runs ok on DC, it then points to a decoder problem.

Brian, many thanks, you could be on the right track! re the decoder.
Watch this space!

[Steve M]

There has been debate in the past re jerky running on Hornby TTS decoders (I know yours isn’t TTS but the principle may be the same).

First try a decoder reset - set cv 8 to 8 - and test it again.
Read cv 150 if your DCC controller allows that.
If the value is 0, change it to 1 and test again.
If the value is 1, change it to 0 and test again.

You may get lucky.

[Forfarian]

Thanks Steve, I'll give that a go.

[Forfarian]

Tried the reset, but nothing except" cant read CV"
I ordered 2 new decoders from Widnes, they arrived this morning, great service!
Fitted the new decoder and the loco is running sweet as a nut.
Thanks for all your advice.

[brian1951]

No problem, thats why were here.