Newbie here, need some help with a clicking noise on our new train

[eschillo]

Hey everyone! We purchased a lionel polar express g gauge train for under our tree. All of a sudden the wheels on the train make a loud clicking noise. We've had it a week or so, and it's been fine until this morning. I attached a video if that helps...is this thing broke or is there something that I'm doing wrong? 

Thanks!

[View:http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=23tgolu&s=8#.VHyA7THF-So]

if that link above doesn't work here is another:

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=23tgolu&s=8#.VHyA7THF-So

[richg1998]

You might scroll down a little ways to the Garden Railways forums.

Rich

[Paul of Covington]

   Link works if you delete the "-So" off the end:

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=23tgolu&s=8#.VHyA7THF

    As richg1998 mentioned, the people on Garden Railways forum can probably help you.

[ttrigg]

Excuse me for screaming at you, but NEVER EVER trun the wheels of an engine by hand. Doing so will accomplish many terrible things. Strip the gears of the drive train. Break the drive gear loose from the axle. And other such things that make the trains next stop "the trash can".

I'm thinking I hear the sound of stripped gears in your video. You could do a bit of shopping around for some repair work, by the way, any warrenty you might have had is now void. You should be prepared for the fact that the cost of repair far exceeds the cost of replacement.

Suggestions for your next engine. When you want the wheels to turn, do so by causing the motor to turn by applying electrical power to the motor. Never put fingers on the wheel to turn them, never push (or pull) the engine down the track causing the wheels to turn.

[Curmudgeon]

There are some locomotive drives that have "feedback", whereby you can cause motor rotation by turning the wheels, but you'd best know up front what the drive is before you try. At least a double-lead worm or spur gears (like older 3-rail Lionel).

Not specifically Lionel, but another brand also made in PRC, plastic axle gears that split...and cause a clicking noise just before they lose all connections with the axle.

I could recommend you buy a quality product, one with good controls on design and production, but I am not sure any more where I would send you for such a product.