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I get all the sound but loco will not move??????

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  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Sturgis South Dakota
  • 169 posts
I get all the sound but loco will not move??????
Posted by froggy on Saturday, May 1, 2010 10:12 AM

This has never been dropped and is N scale SD Mac 90 with sound.Always ran till this morning and I get all the sounds and whistles.At first it would move a little and make a rough noise but now it will not budge and all the sounds are there.It baffles me what happened since last night.

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Posted by Hamltnblue on Saturday, May 1, 2010 10:22 AM

 What brand is it? Also is it DC or DCC?

Springfield PA

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Posted by froggy on Saturday, May 1, 2010 10:23 AM

It is an atlas and it is DCC with sound.

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Posted by mfm37 on Saturday, May 1, 2010 10:33 AM

SD60 maybe?  If it really is an Atlas engine (Atlas hasn't made an N scale SD90 MAC); check the connection where the motor contacts touch the two pads on the bottom of the circuit board. Poor motor connection is a known problem with all Atlas N scale engines. Lights will light, sound will sound, but it won't move.

Martin Myers

  • Member since
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  • From: Sturgis South Dakota
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Posted by froggy on Saturday, May 1, 2010 11:32 AM

I'll try that and let you all know.

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  • From: Sturgis South Dakota
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Posted by froggy on Saturday, May 1, 2010 12:06 PM

I have new information. It is a Kato and N scale and DCC with sound and has always run vewry good.This morning I start it up and I get a noise that sounds like it's off the track.I took the shell off and I get all the sound and it is NOT off the track and goes around full speed butr has a clunk noise that sounds like it would be off the track but it is not.I see the decoder and everything works except I don't like the terrible sound it makes. It runs down the track like nothing is in the way. What gives?????

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Posted by Hamltnblue on Saturday, May 1, 2010 12:21 PM

Clunk sound might be a broken gear. Open the gear box and give it a look. If it is I'm sure parts are available.

Springfield PA

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  • From: Sturgis South Dakota
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Posted by froggy on Saturday, May 1, 2010 1:00 PM

Do I split the locmotive apart and remove the decoder to see the gear box?Is this farly simple for a begginer to do?

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, May 1, 2010 1:33 PM

froggy

Do I split the locmotive apart and remove the decoder to see the gear box?Is this farly simple for a begginer to do?

Hopefully, there is a sheet in the box that shows you how to remove the shell from the frame.

Alton Junction

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Posted by mfm37 on Saturday, May 1, 2010 2:06 PM

Yep, Kato made an SD90. Its design should give reliable motor contact.

You can loosen the frame screws- one at each end- Only a turn or two. Pull the trucks from the mechanism. Gear box is in each truck assembly. Carefully inspect for any foreign matter up in the gears. I had a Kato truck that made a clicking sound. It had a piece of ballast up in the gear box. If nothing foreign is visible, you'll need to take it apart. You really want to check the sheet that came with the engine before doing so. Look for cracks in the gears after wiping them off with some clean cloth. Use a magnifying glass.

 Martin Myers

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  • From: Sturgis South Dakota
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Posted by froggy on Saturday, May 1, 2010 2:08 PM

It is over a year old and a friend of mine installed the decoder awhile back.I had no troubles untill this morning and I hear the clunk clunk while it is moving.It has normal speed and the sound still works. I have it striped down to the chassisWhat next with it falling apart???

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Posted by Hamltnblue on Saturday, May 1, 2010 2:19 PM

Don't panic. This is something that you have to deal with when dealing with anything mechanical.  Just take your time and refer to the insert that was mentioned above. Also visit any kato forums which should give you some good info.

 

Springfield PA

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Posted by tbdanny on Saturday, May 1, 2010 3:49 PM
Just wondering, what brand is the decoder in the locomotive?  That might have a bearing on the issue.

The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon
The Year: 1948
The Scale: On30
The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com

  • Member since
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  • From: Sturgis South Dakota
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Posted by froggy on Saturday, May 1, 2010 5:17 PM

mfm37,I took it apart and I have a lighted magnifing glass.I took the wheels off and took the top gear out of one of the wheels and saw a couple of small pieces of sand.I picked them out and the other wheels turned freely and I put it back together and it runs great. The only hard part was the brass pieces from wheel to wheel.This thread is now closed and thanks for all of the help.

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Posted by mfm37 on Saturday, May 1, 2010 8:43 PM

 Happy you found it! A third hand would be nice when working on those trucksSmile

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