I have a Life-Like Proto 2000 GP38-2 that's making a humming noise. Is this normal? Is there somthing I can do to make it run more quietly?
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
Can you give a few more specifics? Are you operating in DC or DCC? Is your locomotive equipped with a decoder?
Thanks,
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
When I read humming I think motor noise, but describing an abnormal noise isn't the same as all of us hearing the same noise. Can you upload a short video to Youtube?
I admit, Tom's questions are relevant, but wouldn't help me answer your question. Nor would knowing it was motor vs gear noise, for that matter. The good news is we have in the forum people that do know. We just have to nail down what the noise sounds like.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
tstage Can you give a few more specifics? Are you operating in DC or DCC? Is your locomotive equipped with a decoder? Thanks, Tom
DC/no decoder
A few more questions, just to clear things up.
Did you just get this, maybe from Ebay, or a show, and is suppose to be new old stock, as like "never run before" ? Or did you buy this new, as from a hobby shop or dealer, a few years ago when they were released? Or,
Have you had this a while, and it just started making this noise?
Have you had to replace the axle gears because of cracking?
Does it make the noise only when running, or sitting on the track, as soon as power is applied?
Any and all info is very helpful when trying to trouble shoot a problem.
I do agree the "humming" seems to mean something motor and/or electrical.
Mike.
My You Tube
If you are running a DC engine on a DCC layout, the hum noise is normal. But if you are running on a DC layout, then something is wrong. Something is preventing the motor from running properly. Wheels and track should be clean. Open the shell and see if you can manually turn the powertrain without effort.
Simon
mbinsewi A few more questions, just to clear things up. Did you just get this, maybe from Ebay, or a show, and is suppose to be new old stock, as like "never run before" ? Or did you buy this new, as from a hobby shop or dealer, a few years ago when they were released? Or, Have you had this a while, and it just started making this noise? Have you had to replace the axle gears because of cracking? Does it make the noise only when running, or sitting on the track, as soon as power is applied? Any and all info is very helpful when trying to trouble shoot a problem. I do agree the "humming" seems to mean something motor and/or electrical. Mike.
I got it from a train show, "never ran" yet the couplers where installed.
I have had this engine for about 4 months and it only started making the noise a month ago.
The noise starts at low power when it is not moving but the headlight is on.
snjroy Open the shell and see if you can manually turn the powertrain without effort. Simon
Open the shell and see if you can manually turn the powertrain without effort.
Thats the problem- the shell seems to have been glued to the chassis, making it inposible to remove it.
Did you remove the coupler screws as well as the 2 hidden uner the trucks? This engine has probably been sitting around for a while and needs to have the old truck grease removed and replaced with fresh. I had a similar noise problem with a Proto 2000 GP 38-2 and after removing the hardened grease it now runs almost silently.
Joe
As Joe states, and if the screws aren't by the trucks, then they are hidden by the fuel tank, which slides off, revealing the scews.
That's the way the GP30 shell comes off, along with removing the couplers.
Harrison snjroy Open the shell and see if you can manually turn the powertrain without effort. Simon Thats the problem- the shell seems to have been glued to the chassis, making it inposible to remove it.
Take a look at this link....click on it and where it says Life Like in the center of page......click on Engine diagrams and scroll down to GP 30 page 7, click on that and a diagram of the bottom of the engine and how to remove the shell...look over that and see if Yours resembles that one. Unless they changed the 38, Yours should be the same, with two screws under the fuel tank, which is held on with double sided tape:
http://hoseeker.net/lifelike.htm
Good Luck!
Frank
Also try lubing the motor with crc262 or hobby train oil. ive had several of these locos where the motor itself is making the noise. then break it in very well.
- Douglas
snjroy If you are running a DC engine on a DCC layout, the hum noise is normal. But if you are running on a DC layout, then something is wrong. Something is preventing the motor from running properly. Wheels and track should be clean. Open the shell and see if you can manually turn the powertrain without effort. Simon
Sorry off topic a bit but I didn’t know you can run a DC loco on a DCC Layout. Thought they just take off and crash!
Gary
gdelmoroSorry off topic a bit but I didn’t know you can run a DC loco on a DCC Layout
You can't, with your NCE, the digitrax folks can.
BigDaddy gdelmoro Sorry off topic a bit but I didn’t know you can run a DC loco on a DCC Layout You can't, with your NCE, the digitrax folks can.
gdelmoro Sorry off topic a bit but I didn’t know you can run a DC loco on a DCC Layout
Thanks BigDaddy
The shouldn;t take off and crash on any DCC system, even ones that can;t run a DC loco - the DC loco sees an average of 0 volts DC, unless your DCC system is broken.
Digitrax and Lenz can run a DC loco.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.