Williams GP9 Operating Issues

[Anonymous]

Ok, I am perplexed. I've had this Williams GP9 engine about a year and it always performed flawlessly. Sometimes it still does. But then:

1. When operating in one direction, and that one direction only, the engine makes a sort of screeching/squeaking noise - a short "SCREEE!" when stopped. I hasten to add that the engine is well lubricated. Unlike (2), this ALWAYS results when the engine is stopped in that direction.

2. Sometimes, but only sometimes, when I press the directional buttons, the engine tries to move and then it seems like something is literally blocking the wheels or motor - i.e., the wheels move forward and then kind of lock up, for lack of a better description.

3. The only thing that has happened out of the ordinary with this engine is that I, in a moment of panic, reached out and grabbed it as it was ready to hurl itself off the track. I had, you see, switched the control knobs for that track on the transformer and naturally turned the knob the wrong way, thus leading to my panicky grab.

4. There are no obvious blockages on the wheels or gears based on visual inspection, ie, nothing bent or obstructing. The engine didn't hit anything in (3), but was merely very abruptly stopped.

So, based on this, the engine still runs but obviously something is wrong. I like to take care of my stuff, so I am thinking of taking it to the smart guys at Todd's Trains for a look. However, I would greatly appreciate any comment or diagnosis anyone can give here. Thank you in advance.

[phillyreading]

I have three GP-9's by Williams and don't have any problems with them. Are you using a decent oil to lubricate with?  Personally I don't recommend 3 in 1 oil for locomotives, get something a little heavier like Labell's oil at a hobby shop.

Have you looked at your transformer and track for the problem with trying to start but won't?  You will be surprized at what cleaning the track does to solve problems!

Sometimes an old transformer will play tricks on you as for performance, post war transformers mainly as they get old and lose functions at times.  Use a new transformer and see what your GP-9 does then.

Lee F.

[Anonymous]

I have three GP-9's by Williams and don't have any problems with them. Are you using a decent oil to lubricate with?  Personally I don't recommend 3 in 1 oil for locomotives, get something a little heavier like Labell's oil at a hobby shop.

I've been using Singer sewing machine oil. It seems to work very well. Is that a bad choice?

Have you looked at your transformer and track for the problem with trying to start but won't?  You will be surprized at what cleaning the track does to solve problems!

The problem appears to be worse when the track is not cleaned in terms of the locking up. The "screech" occurs whether the track is clean or dirty, and on both tubular and FT

Sometimes an old transformer will play tricks on you as for performance, post war transformers mainly as they get old and lose functions at times.  Use a new transformer and see what your GP-9 does then.

The transformer in question is a PW Trainmaster Type R that was fully maintained by the crew at Todd's about four months ago. I agree with what you are saying, because sometimes I am still suspicious of it. However, the identical symptoms occur with the new Williams 150-watter that operates the Fastrack portion of the layout. I should have noted that.

Thank you for all of these good suggestions!

[phillyreading]

Have you contacted Williams Trains about the problem?  It sounds like a more serious problem than I have heard of before with any Williams.

Lee F.

[Anonymous]

I have not. I can certainly do that, though. Good suggestion.

 

EDIT: As you suggested, I have sent them an email describing the problems.

[Jumijo]

My suggestion would be to call Williams on the telephone and talk to the Technician.

The number and Technician times are on their webpage.

I would do this before I took anything apart.

Good luck.

Jim  

[Blueberryhill RR]

My suggestion would be to call Williams on the telephone and talk to the Technician.

The number and Technician times are on their webpage.

I would do this before I took anything apart.

Good luck.

Chuck

[Jumijo]

Are you mocking me, Chuck?!  

Jim 

[Blueberryhill RR]

Are you mocking me, Chuck?!  

Jim 

Hmmmmmmmm.....talk about thinking alike. Great minds.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Are you mocking me, Chuck?!  

Jim 

Hmmmmmmmm.....talk about thinking alike. Great minds.

Great minds, my ! 

Now if this was my engine, I would call Williams on the telephone and talk to the Technician.

The number and Technician times are on their webpage.

I would do this before I took anything apart.

Good luck.

(Good advice guys!)

 

[okiechoochoo]

I would certainly contact Williams since your GP9 has a lifetime warranty

 

[EIS2]

I expect you have something loose in the drive mechanism.  Either a loose screw or a foreign object may be floating around in there.  If you are comfortable opening up the locomotive, give it a try.  The trucks float a little under the engine and that is probably why the screech occurs in one direction and not the other.

Earl

[RR Redneck]

When given the choose, I like the fact that there is another person on the line that knows what the heck I am talkin about.

[Anonymous]

After careful thought, I am going to do the following:

(1) call Williams on the telephone

(2) talk to the Technician.

(3) I will do this before I take anything apart.

 

 

[Buckeye Riveter]

After careful thought, I am going to do the following:

(1) call Williams on the telephone

(2) talk to the Technician.

(3) I will do this before I take anything apart.

 

 

Great answer.    I would have done the same thing! 

[Blueberryhill RR]

After careful thought, I am going to do the following:

(1) call Williams on the telephone

(2) talk to the Technician.

(3) I will do this before I take anything apart.

 

 

Great answer.    I would have done the same thing! 

Yep, another great mind.

[Buckeye Riveter]

After careful thought, I am going to do the following:

(1) call Williams on the telephone

(2) talk to the Technician.

(3) I will do this before I take anything apart.

 

 

Great answer.    I would have done the same thing! 

Yep, another great mind.

Two out of four ain't bad!

[Jumijo]

RTF,

I'm glad you decided to take my sage advice. Let us know what transpires.

Jim - (one of the great minds? Uhhh, no )

[3railguy]

If it does it in one direction or locks up, as EIS2 suggests, it sounds like the motor has come loose from the truck causing the motor worm to walk away from the gear. Or the motor shaft thrust bearing is worn causing too much play in the shaft.

[Anonymous]

If it does it in one direction or locks up, as EIS2 suggests, it sounds like the motor has come loose from the truck causing the motor worm to walk away from the gear. Or the motor shaft thrust bearing is worn causing too much play in the shaft.

I think you are on to something here. The sudden stop - from high speed to a dead stop - from that embarassing incident I mentioned may well have caused the motor to come loose from the truck.

I have not had a response to my email from Williams, so I will call them and ask.

[Jumijo]

Maybe . . . but Williams locos have flywheels.

[Anonymous]

Maybe . . . but Williams locos have flywheels.

A perfect example, along with the other post, of why this forum is such a valuable resource. Thanks to both of you.

[EIS2]

Maybe . . . but Williams locos have flywheels.

I have two Williams engines, a 44-Tonner and a Berkshire.  Both have flywheels and both stop immediately, locking up the wheels, when I hit the direction button.   If I don't slow down before changing directions, they both stop so fast that the trailing cars will sometimes derail.

Earl

[Jumijo]

Maybe . . . but Williams locos have flywheels.

I have two Williams engines, a 44-Tonner and a Berkshire.  Both have flywheels and both stop immediately, locking up the wheels, when I hit the direction button.   If I don't slow down before changing directions, they both stop so fast that the trailing cars will sometimes derail.

Earl

I have a Williams 671, a 2023 set, and a 2343 set. All of them have flywheels and coast to a stop. One great feature if you ask me.

On the other hand, I have a Lionel Polar Express Berkshire that supposedly has a flywheel but stops immediately in its tracks if power is shut off.  

Insert shrug here I guess.

Jim 

[Anonymous]

My GP9 does not coast to a stop. It sort of (literally, now) screeches to a halt.

[Anonymous]

Here is what I heard back:

Hello:

I do not know what is going on with it. Send it in and we will take a look at it.

Nice of them to do that. I will send it back though I hate to part with it.

[3railguy]

Maybe . . . but Williams locos have flywheels.

Flywheels makes no difference. The engine will behave this way if the motor comes loose from the truck flywheels or no flywheels. Same goes for a worn thrust bearing that causes the shaft to walk.

[Jumijo]

Here is what I heard back:

Hello:

I do not know what is going on with it. Send it in and we will take a look at it.

Nice of them to do that. I will send it back though I hate to part with it.

That is the reply I was sure you would recieve. The good news is, I've sent them locomotives to work on and both times, it was repaired and back on my layout in less than a week. Want more good news? Motor and truck repairs are done under warranty, so they are free. You will have to apy for shipping the train to them though. Make sure you insure it!

Jim 

[Anonymous]

^ That IS good news. Thank you. I feel a little guilty about that, since I do believe it's my own imbecility that caused the problems, or so I suspect. But that says a great deal of good about Williams. I believe my next engine purchase (of a non PW, anyway) will again be a Williams product.