Sagging pantographs?

[CaptOblivious]

A number of pantographs on several of my trains suffer from "sagging pantograph syndrome" :( Anyone got a cure?

[alpineaustralia]

For fear of starting a round of dirty innuendos about men's sagging equipment, can you elaborate?

[CaptOblivious]

I mean that after a few minutes' running, sometimes a pantograph (it's always the same ones) begin to collapse or to droop or sag. Usually the scissors-types are the worst, but it happens to all kinds. Just not enough friction to hold them up.

[alpineaustralia]

Again, for fear of the reaction to my response,.....I have never had the sagging problem you describe.

No doubt it is the vibration  but it shouldnt hapen to all your trains surely.

[CaptOblivious]

Again, for fear of the reaction to my response,.....I have never had the sagging problem you describe.

No doubt it is the vibration  but it shouldnt hapen to all your trains surely.

 

It worst with this one panta on the Skyliner, and pretty bad with one on a different car of the same train. One of the pantas on the 209 sags some too. Others sag to a lesser degree. I figured this was a commonplace, given how many of mine do…am I the only one? I'll post some photos tonight or so.

[alpineaustralia]

Can honestly say it has never happened. Hmmm.

[Guest ___]

Haven't encountered this one yet on my N-scale. I did recall having the problem with my HO stuff, interurban, the only way to fix it had been either to try and use pliers to put more tension at the hinge or to replace the panta outright.

[bill937ca]

What kind of base does your layout have?  A table? 

[CaptOblivious]

What kind of base does your layout have?  A table? 

 

Yes, its just FineTrack on an Ikea table top :D You suspect the vibration resulting from such a set-up?

[bill937ca]

What kind of base does your layout have?  A table? 

 

Yes, its just FineTrack on an Ikea table top :D You suspect the vibration resulting from such a set-up?

 

That's my thought.  I have a purpose built hobby table (30" x 60") with a plywood top covered by homasote and now WS foam. The layout is two of these tables joined togeher with C clamps underneath.  I can't recall having a problem with pantographs.

[CaptOblivious]

FYI, stevenh clearly has this problem too, and this phot isn't of a running train:

http://modelrail.otenko.com/sites/default/files/DSC07914.JPG

[cteno4]

Is this happening on all your pantographs or just a few? if its just a few offenders it sounds like their hinge points are just very loose and free moving. this could be corrected as Aaron suggested by tweaking them a tiny bit with fine pliers to tighten them up some. there are quite a few different hinge configurations for pantographs out there so you will need to study it to see what tweak might tighten them up a tad with a bit of a twist or bend.

 

cheers,

 

jeff

[CaptOblivious]

Is this happening on all your pantographs or just a few? if its just a few offenders it sounds like their hinge points are just very loose and free moving. this could be corrected as Aaron suggested by tweaking them a tiny bit with fine pliers to tighten them up some. there are quite a few different hinge configurations for pantographs out there so you will need to study it to see what tweak might tighten them up a tad with a bit of a twist or bend.

 

cheers,

 

jeff

 

 

 

It is just a few of them, not all of them. They do seem a little looser than the others. I suppose there's not too much harm in trying…I'll see if I can tweak them without breaking them.

[Guest ___]

My KATO EF66 does this as does my Pro-Z, E231 and EF66. since I don't have wire overhead it really doesn't bother me all too much. I suppose if I was dependent and taking my power from overhead I'd worry about it more. That's just me though.