[Leloby]

I took delivery of an SCX Mercedes SLS AMG and a Ninco Murcelago the other day and I've tried everything to get them going properly.
At first I thought they were indicating bad connections on my Scalextric Sport track but now it's just winding me up.
They both stutter and stop, sometimes half way along a straight section - even on the power supply half straight!
Absolutely all internal wiring looks fine, as do the mechanics.
Could stop-start characteristics be attributed to a dodgy motor?
Weird that both cars have the same annoying "fault".
Meanwhile every other car I have rockets around, on new or old braids...
Actually I bought an SCX Fiat 131 at the same time and it's fine, straight out the box.

 

[Leloby]

I'll try some of the much-hyped "Inox".
I worked on it last night trying to fathom it all out. If the track was a bit more permanent I'd copper tape it all but it seems a huge length to go to just because 2 new cars won't work. Pardon the unintended and poor pun.

 

[GregK]

Hi Leloby ......... welcome to the Forum

My first instinct is to look carefully at the braids. Make sure that they are not too splayed at the ends and that there there are no small fibres that might touch ones on the other side. If they look 100% then check the wires leading from the braids to the motors as they might have intermittant breaks in them.

Cheers - Greg

 

[Philip P]

Hi Leloby,

I find that the braids on new cars often need to be adjusted to ensure a good connection. This usually means adjusting the angle and curve of the brade to ensure maximum contact and spreading the ends a bit. As Greg says make sure there is nothing creating a short between the braids.

Good luck,

Philip

 

[Abarth Mike]

If you think it is the motor, prop up the rear tyres ( a large pencil eraser works fine) and run the car. If it wont go move it around on the rails until it does. Run it/them at 1/4 throttle for about 5 mins if nothing happens motors are fine.

 

[beneke]

Hi,

Ja,stuttering is a most annoying and frustrating problem ,especially with new cars that probablly cost a packet.

It certainly sounds like a braid/contact problem.Sport Track......mmmm
I chucked out sections of Sport track in my Classic layout for exactly the same reason.
Somehow certain cars will not perform properly on Sport Track.
I found that if you push the braids closer to each other( inwards towards the guideblade) the problem is cured but be careful not to allow them to touch each other.
Also try adding a bit of weight to the front of the cars to get a little more downforce on the braids

Hope this helps
Regards
Bryan

 

[RichD]

A known problem with Scalextric Sport track is that sometimes the rails can be a little lower than the track surface. If that is the case there will be places where the car's braids may not touch the rails if they are splayed out too much. As has been noted getting the braids closer to the guide flag blade helps a lot. You can also twist the braids so they make a shallow V.

 

[Leloby]

RichD, well done that man! And thanks to the others.
I had the multimeter out and all is well - more head scratching. However! I now see that the sections in question have low rails and the braids are so fat that they are bridging these rails.
I don't think I'd ever have found that out myself.
I have a lot of 2nd hand track and it's probably been knelt on at some point.

I have added a bit of lead to both cars and I'll rewire the Lambo tomorrow because the standard jobs are gossamer thin.
But for now, we're in business.

Great forum - I've been a silent reader for some time.

Cheers!

 

[beneke]

Hi ,

Just an old adage"if it is not broken don't fix it"
Do not worry about the Lambo
I have found sort of a back yard mechanic way to straighten old track.
Hold up the track and gauge the out the bumps with your eye
Put the track on a level surface
Take a piece of wood about 15 cm square and the same length as the track
Place it length wise on top of the rails and give it a few blows with a light hammer
all along the length
You might have to do this on both sides of the track, check it out and bang some more,until you are satisfied

Bryan .

 

[beneke]

Hi.

Apologies block of wood should be about 25 mm square not 15
cm

Regards