Help with engine from 60052

[TheLegoNewbie]

Hello all,

I have just brought the freight set 60052 and I am having issues with the engine.

I have put brand new batteries in and the train struggles to move.

I can hear a squell coming from the engine and if I lift it the wheels will move.

Its like its got no power to move it.

Can someone please assist.

Thanks

[NoEinstein]

Welcome TheLegoNewbie.

The squell/squeal is mostly heard in my experience when the train PF motor is on a low setting. The motor has 7 speed settings in both directions when you use the included remote. You did try more than one click turn on the remote?

Do the wheels turn very fast when lifted? If so I assume that you are on (almost) full speed and do not have a clue why the engine does not work when put on the rails. I have not had issues with the train motors.

[Redimus]

Has it got the rubber traction (elastic) bands on the wheels?

[dr_spock]

Maybe too much friction somewhere. Are the wheel properly spaced on the motor? How about hooking up the motor directly to battery box and by-passing the IR receiver? Does the motor go full power on the tracks?

[TheLegoNewbie]

Im going to try to use Energizer AAA today and see how I go as I think it has very low power.

Can someone please also explain the functions of the remote the one with 2 orange circles?

I understand you set the channel for the train but when I turn he circle many times it does nothing.

No rubber wheels. Just plastic.

[detjensrobert]

Make sure the remote is on the same channel as the receiver. Also, you are not getting any traction with the plastic wheels. Use the ones with the rubber bands on them, as that will get you traction.

The remotes:

This one is a on-off-on remote (only full speed either direction, AKA bang-bang remote).

----------------

This one is a variable speed remote. Turning the circle increases/ decreases the speed

Edited October 14, 2014 by detjensrobert

[snowvictim]

Make sure there's a little room between the wheels and the motor. If the wheels are too close together on the axles then the motor will struggle to run.

[TheLegoNewbie]

Do both wheels come with the sets?

Or do I have to buy the wheels with bands separate.

[NoEinstein]

I do not personally own the set, but the train motors should come with black plastic wheels with thin transparent rubber bands around them like so (white/transparent circle around the wheel):

If the transparent rubber bands are missing I would suggest you contact LEGO customers services and ask for replacement wheels.

My trains run with rechargeable batteries thus do not deliver a 9V total and I never had issues. I am always making sure the wheels are not pressed to hard against the "motor block" like snowvictim suggested.

Edited October 15, 2014 by NoEinstein

[marvinblue]

My Dad is having the same issues with 60052. We've tried checking the spacing of the wheels (as mentioned above) and have also taken the rubber bands off the non-powered bogey to help to reduce friction. I think that the batteries that he bought are a little dodgey (not delivering full power). We're going to try some fresh batteries in the very near future. I've also noticed that the train engine is quite heavy and seems to stuggle really badly pulling the whole train. I reckon that it's a power output problem.

[Duq]

This doesn't make sense.

You say you hear a squealing noise from the motor. That means it's getting power.

You say when you turn the wheel on the remote a few times it does nothing. How did you get the train to turn on in the first place?

A few things to check.

• Wheels. As mentioned above, make sure the wheels are not tight against the motor. Leave a millimeter space - just enough to get your fingernail between motor and wheel.
  
• Channel. Set remote and receiver to channel 1 (orange slider to the top).
  
• Batteries. Are all the batteries the right way around in the battery box?
  

If you've built the train according to the instructions then the blue wheel (right hand one) should control the train. Turn the wheel to the right. The train should move. Turn the wheel further in the same direction. The train should move faster. Now turn the wheel the other way. The train should slow down. Keep turning. The train should stop and then move in the other direction.

If your train doesn't do any or all of the above: change the channel on the remote and the receiver. See if this makes a difference.

If it still doesn't work: open the train and change the motor wire to the other connector on the receiver. Now the left wheel on the remote should control the train.

If changing the channel or swapping to the other connector fixes the issue or if the train still won't run properly then it's time to call customer service. If you have other Power Functions elements you can try to work out whether it's the remote or the receiver (does the remote work with another model? Does the train work with another remote?), otherwise they'll probably replace both.

If all works well the train is fast enough (on fresh batteries) to fly off the track...