Atheran Locomotives

[ShaunCN]

I have an athearn SW 7 that seems to have a problem. I bought it used at a train show for $20. good deal I thought until last night when it now seems to need more power(ie. increase throtle) just to get at half speed. I tried cleanng the weels but it did not make any difference. Please help.

Shaun CN

[ShaunCN]

I have an athearn SW 7 that seems to have a problem. I bought it used at a train show for $20. good deal I thought until last night when it now seems to need more power(ie. increase throtle) just to get at half speed. I tried cleanng the weels but it did not make any difference. Please help.

Shaun CN

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

I would remove the shell and make sure the motor is mounted straight, I had a problem like and adjusted the motor, sprayed contact cleaner on the motor and gears.

Oiled and lubed and it works fine.

Mine was a SW1500 Athearn.

Hope this helps ShaunCN

Mark In Texas

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

I would remove the shell and make sure the motor is mounted straight, I had a problem like and adjusted the motor, sprayed contact cleaner on the motor and gears.

Oiled and lubed and it works fine.

Mine was a SW1500 Athearn.

Hope this helps ShaunCN

Mark In Texas

[eastcoast]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LCandMRR

I've fould that if you add 9 ounces of weight to a F45 or FP45, they quiet down pretty good, and pull much better. Life-Like seems to use slightly better motors, as I just can't get my Athearns to pull as much.

[:0]
I tried this and had a worse performance out of my FP45. I kind of like the sound
after all and it just blends in well with the sounds of the other things on the layout.
Yes, it is compared to Godzilla some of the time but I feel that if you keep up with the lube and maintainance, it will last even with the growling. I have pulled 30 Athearn passenger cars with my out -of -the- box FP45 without a failure, and at slow speed.
Athearn makes some good products, I am a satisfied customer.
[^]

[eastcoast]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LCandMRR

I've fould that if you add 9 ounces of weight to a F45 or FP45, they quiet down pretty good, and pull much better. Life-Like seems to use slightly better motors, as I just can't get my Athearns to pull as much.

[:0]
I tried this and had a worse performance out of my FP45. I kind of like the sound
after all and it just blends in well with the sounds of the other things on the layout.
Yes, it is compared to Godzilla some of the time but I feel that if you keep up with the lube and maintainance, it will last even with the growling. I have pulled 30 Athearn passenger cars with my out -of -the- box FP45 without a failure, and at slow speed.
Athearn makes some good products, I am a satisfied customer.
[^]

[AggroJones]

I enjoy the signature Athearn growl. It's like a built in sound system. And Athearns are the backbone of my diesel fleet.

[AggroJones]

I enjoy the signature Athearn growl. It's like a built in sound system. And Athearns are the backbone of my diesel fleet.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Jeremy,I have Athearn locomotives 22 of them to be exact and I rate them right up there among the best made..Remember this..Athearn locomotives is like a Timex watch.They will take a beating and keep right on ticking. These are my most trouble free locomotives I own.

I'm surprised at all the accolades being heaped on the Athearn locos. I mean they were pretty good for their time, but the only other real choice for something better was brass, and from what I've read, they didn't run all that well most of the time either.

From my perspective coming back into the hobby a dozen years ago, after being out of it for around 15, the locos didn't get any operationally better until the Protos and others started coming out about, what, 8-10 years ago.

I had a couple Athearns a few years back when I re-entered the hobby and spent hours tweaking, tearing apart, checking, adjusting, lubing -- I even put a Helix Humper in one, and after it all, I was underwhelmed. Been using the others ever since and haven't looked back.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Jeremy,I have Athearn locomotives 22 of them to be exact and I rate them right up there among the best made..Remember this..Athearn locomotives is like a Timex watch.They will take a beating and keep right on ticking. These are my most trouble free locomotives I own.

I'm surprised at all the accolades being heaped on the Athearn locos. I mean they were pretty good for their time, but the only other real choice for something better was brass, and from what I've read, they didn't run all that well most of the time either.

From my perspective coming back into the hobby a dozen years ago, after being out of it for around 15, the locos didn't get any operationally better until the Protos and others started coming out about, what, 8-10 years ago.

I had a couple Athearns a few years back when I re-entered the hobby and spent hours tweaking, tearing apart, checking, adjusting, lubing -- I even put a Helix Humper in one, and after it all, I was underwhelmed. Been using the others ever since and haven't looked back.

[METRO]

Everyone has at least one Athearn engine (or they should!) For the kind of model selection, variety of roads, and price, there is no other. Sure I love hearing the whisper-quiet Kato locos where the loudest sound are the wheels crossing a joint. But hearing the Athearns is so farmilar to me, my dad had Athearns and my grandad had Athearns and I grew up hearing F7s that were so old that they had gone through two or three gearboxes. The sound of the Athearns is just part of the hobby, we all know it and hopefully always will.

[METRO]

Everyone has at least one Athearn engine (or they should!) For the kind of model selection, variety of roads, and price, there is no other. Sure I love hearing the whisper-quiet Kato locos where the loudest sound are the wheels crossing a joint. But hearing the Athearns is so farmilar to me, my dad had Athearns and my grandad had Athearns and I grew up hearing F7s that were so old that they had gone through two or three gearboxes. The sound of the Athearns is just part of the hobby, we all know it and hopefully always will.