I have a Tower 55 ES44DC (DCC Sound) which ran great out of the box and has been in my display case for the last two years. I went to run it the other day and found it is running like a non-powered loco where the wheels roll freely with no output from the motor. On the test track I can hear the motor running but no motive. Does anyone know if this is an easy fix? Is removing the shell going to turn into a nightmare as in the Atlas Gold series? Appreciate any input.
cadman1
Your first step should be to remove the shell and watch the mechanism to see where the problem lies. From your description is seems like the drive shafts have both been broken, but if the model has just been sitting on the shelf this is unlikely.
Another possibility is cracked axle drive gears, but the likelihood that all 6 would crack is very slim.
It's been a couple of years since I removed the shells to replace the Digitrax Sound FX decoder, but I think you have to remove the couplers and some of the side handrails, and then carefully wiggle the shell off the frame. The wiring to the lights is short so be careful that you don't pull them loose.
Whatever you discover is the problem, finding replacement parts is going to be a major challenge because Tower 55 models were owned by Overland Models and made by a company in Korea that has gone out of business. I believe Athearn now owns the former Tower 55 production molds. Perhaps Athearn Genesis drive shafts and axle gears will fit your model.
cacole,
Thanks for the info. I was mainly concerned about removing the shell and hoping it wasn't like an Atlas Gold so will go ahead and look inside. Hopefully the shafts have just slipped out of the drive but again the model has been sitting so will see.
cadman