Kato Shiki-Shima

[Sascha]

I finally wanted to start and add the interior to it with lights and figurines and stuff.  I want to make a module just for the train, where add a Kato controller with enough power so the lights are on, but it wont move.The problem I'm having is that for the lights to function I have to press the wagon down, and I mean every wagon. Never had that problem before,I tested other trains, and they are fine. Can i fix this somehow?

[Kamome]

I would probably suggest that either something is out of alignment or not seated correctly.  The main culprit tends to be the brass contact strips.  The issue is most likely either where the bogie brass contact touches the coach chassis brass strips, or where those strips connect to the light unit.

 

I actually have a similar issue with the head/taillights of the KAto HO Kiha 58/28 series and is hugely irritating to correct. The brass strips run the length of the coach can easily get misaligned or gradually start bending up and not making contact with the bogie. Obviously as you push down on the coach, all the elements required push back into position and then the lights come on. I tedn to find you can get everything back to working and when you put the body shell back on, it goes off again and you have to start again.

[Sascha]

On 8/9/2024 at 1:57 AM, Kamome said:

I would probably suggest that either something is out of alignment or not seated correctly.  The main culprit tends to be the brass contact strips.  The issue is most likely either where the bogie brass contact touches the coach chassis brass strips, or where those strips connect to the light unit.

 

I actually have a similar issue with the head/taillights of the KAto HO Kiha 58/28 series and is hugely irritating to correct. The brass strips run the length of the coach can easily get misaligned or gradually start bending up and not making contact with the bogie. Obviously as you push down on the coach, all the elements required push back into position and then the lights come on. I tedn to find you can get everything back to working and when you put the body shell back on, it goes off again and you have to start again.

Well that sucks. I'm not good with taking trains apart. Guess I just take it as money down the drain.hanks for the info.

[cteno4]

Sasha,

 

getting good at fiddling with trains is mostly just a matter of practice. If you don’t try you will never learn it. If you feel the train is not useful as is, what would it hurt to just play with a car some ro see if you can find the issue and just get some practice in. As soon as you start to fix stuff you build confidence fast in doing more then as well. have anyone local who is a good train fiddler, ask them. Sometimes someone showing you some tips helps or just watching their thought process.
 

Give it a shot.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Sascha]

2 hours ago, cteno4 said:

Sasha,

 

getting good at fiddling with trains is mostly just a matter of practice. If you don’t try you will never learn it. If you feel the train is not useful as is, what would it hurt to just play with a car some ro see if you can find the issue and just get some practice in. As soon as you start to fix stuff you build confidence fast in doing more then as well. have anyone local who is a good train fiddler, ask them. Sometimes someone showing you some tips helps or just watching their thought process.
 

Give it a shot.

 

cheers

 

jeff

You are right of course, but It still runs, just can't put lights in it, and it was to expensive to just fiddle with it.

[cteno4]

Fair enough! I just always encourage folks to fiddle. i have to say one of my biggest little joys in the hobby is when I fix something like this. I don’t think I’ve ever broken anything worse than it worse than it was already broken. I know there is that big fear curve though on poking around, but once over the hump it’s fun and interesting.

 

sounds like you got the car open to try one with lighting, that usually the only place where things could get dicy to break something. It’s probably just the brass contact strips in the floor of the car. I’m wondering if during the light install the metal collection strips are just a tad loose or raised and why the truck contact needing a little push down to make contact with them. I’d say poke around some, I doubt you can mess anything else up, it’s only the lighting that would be effected playing with the innards and that’s not working right now anyway.

 

cheers

 

jeff