Adjusting the pantographs of class 151

Please read these instructions carefully prior to commencing any work. Even though no special skills are required, you may need a bit of patience to be successful.

The working steps described below should only be carried out by experienced hobby craftsmen, since incorrect handling could cause some damage that is not covered by the warranty.  

If you do not want to do this yourself, we recommend contacting your hobby shop.

Step 1

1) Tools required

You will need tweezers for the adjustment of the pantographs. The tips of the tweezers should be covered with adhesive tape (masking tape) in order to avoid scratching or scraping away any paint from the pantographs or the push rod.

Step 2

2) Initial situation

The subsequent adjustment of the pantographs should only be done, if the pantograph exceeds the tolerance value of 4.0mm in the lowered position.

Step 3

3) Workflow

In order to assure that the pantograph reaches its proper end position the lug, which guides the push rod must be slightly bent. Please note that 2/10th of a millimetre are sufficient in most cases in order to achieve the desired result.

Step 4

 

Put the locomotive onto the track and switch on the function pantograph up/down with the appropriate function button (the default setting is F3). If the pantograph is fully raised you can start with the adjustment procedure.

Step 5

 

Now you must carefully push down the pantograph with your finger.

Step 6

 

Take the tweezers with your other hand and carefully bend the lug towards the centre of the locomotive.

ATTENTION: The tweezers must touch the pantograph above the lug; otherwise the system of rods will be bent instead of the lug. Please check the alignment of the cross member after this procedure; it may under no circumstances be bent too sharply, which would lead to a malfunction of the pantograph. 

 

Step 7

 

Then you control the end position of the pantograph by putting the locomotive back onto the track and by lowering the pantograph by pushing the appropriate function button. If the procedure was satisfactory, then this process is completed. Otherwise repeat the process as from step 3.