Decoder and stay alive

[controller]

I have this decoder connected to a ringfield motor on a hst 125. The wheels are as clean as I can get them, the motor has been taken apart and cleaned, and runs well. Problem is, when I try to run the train it stops and starts, I have to give it a little nudge to get it going again. If I connect the stay alive to the decoder, would it help. If so ,where do I solder the blue and black wires?. Or would it make any difference at all?. 

Thanks,

Controller.

[DiveController]

Been a long time since I messed around with decoder so have forgotten quite a lot.

Test the motor on DC, connect power to the wheels first , then test on a section of track.

If it runs well on DC then there's an issue with the DCC decoder or CV settings such as starting voltage etc if its struggling the same section of track.

I'd start by resetting the decoder to factory settings (CV8 to 8 usually) which is usually sufficient to get most thing started.

The Stay Alive will work for dirty track but not if it runs well on DC already. Which decoder? Do you have the manual? If not, it may be online

  

[Dhu Varren]

Unmodified Hornby locos are notorious for poor running, especially on DCC. I have fitted decoders to numerous Hornby locos, both steam and diesel. Two days ago, I fitted a decoder to a Class 29 belonging to a friend, and although the motor ran perfectly on the workbench, once on the DCC track it would not budge. Investigation revealed two problems. The first is a problem I have dealt with before, and that is over oiling, particularly with steam engines. In the case of the Class 29 the driven wheel axles were swimming in oil. Too much oil acts as an insulator and affects electrical pick up. Removing the wheels and axles, cleaning off the excess oil and refitting the wheels cured that problem. Whilst doing this, I noticed that the axles on the trailing bogie were showing signs of arcing where they contacted the metal chassis block. The axles were cleaned up with a fibre pen and refitted. The loco ran better this time but still needed the odd shove. I noticed that by pushing gently down on the loco, it ran OK. I decided that the basic Hornby diesel loco is too light and pick up is poor as a result, and can cause arcing at the axles, thus making the problem worse. The answer was simple, add more weight. A suitable weight was fitted, and hey presto, the loco runs perfectly. The extra weight also helps with keeping the wheels and pickup axles clean.

Three things that DCC operation requires.  1.  Clean track.  2.  Clean wheels.  3.  Good power pickup.