HELP! Beginner with HO Athearn Loco problem

[Anonymous]

I bought a HO scale Athearn F7A Super Power Amtrak Phase 1 Locomotive for Christmas to run on his Bachmann HO Scale EZ track set. I can not get the engine to move, only the lights to come on. No humming or any noise, just the front light comes on. Do I need a stronger power supply to run this engine. It has a fly wheel and eight wheels. It is a little heavier than his other engines! Thanks!! Jennifer -- [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

This has happened with some of my engines. (mostly Athearn) Try giving the engine a shove. If you have already done this and no other method you can think of works, call Athearn. (their site is www.athearn.com and their phone number is further below on the homepage), it's safer to contact them than to try too much and accidentally do something to the engine. When I bought an engine once at a train show, I tested the engine. The engine wouldn't run. I brought it back, and the man who sold the engine repaired it for me. This was ten months ago and the engine still runs without any problems. Good luck!

[nfmisso]

Jennifer;

That is definitely a possibility, but as the light(s) come on, not likely, especially if they come on bright. Please verify that other engines will run as presently wired, and that the wires are not going to the AC terminals of the power pack.

If the above does not solve the mystery, take back to where you got it, if possible, and if not call Athearn as Doug suggests.

[AntonioFP45]

Athearns are usually pretty decent and tough engines but a "bugger" slips through every now and then. Even the cheapest power packs will run an Athearn, so it's likely that the pack is not the problem. Turn up the power pack knob or level to 50% and push down on the loco for 3 to 5 seconds. May be a contact plate or wire not making electrical contact or a bur on the armature or truck gear. If that doesn't help, carefully remove the carbody and inspect the mechanism. As tempting as it is, don't do a lot of dissasembly! If you can't find the problem, return it to the hobby shop with your receipt. If the counterman can't get it going, ask for a replacement.

Suggestion: When purchasing locomotives from a hobby shop, always have the sales rep test your engine. A lot of shops just use a simple stretch of track with a pack attached to it for a quick test. If your shop doesn't have a test track, suggest it to the owner that it's a very good business practice and shows the customer that satisfaction is high priority!

[Anonymous]

If the loco is a true "Super Power" then if I'm correct these have a decoder in it. Take the shell off and see if there is circuit chip in it. The local hobby shop here has some Athearn "Super Power" locos there and they have decoders in them. Could be.

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

This happened to me with one of my Bachmann engines. Make sure that all the wires are connected to the power pack. Since you are using EZ track you might want to look at the spot where the wire connects to the track. Turn the throttle on (not to high, though) and shake the connector a little. It worked for me with my EZ track. If that doesn't work try pluging in the wire on the other side of the track. Just some advice.

4884bigboy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by juby4life

If the loco is a true "Super Power" then if I'm correct these have a decoder in it. Take the shell off and see if there is circuit chip in it. The local hobby shop here has some Athearn "Super Power" locos there and they have decoders in them. Could be.

Jeremy

As I understand it, the Super Power designation when applied to an Athearn F7 denotes one with an additional ballast weight - a metal casting shaped to fit over the motor. I have one of these in Lehigh Valley livery (from the Athearn SE pack that came out a few years ago), and it's a superb hauler due to the extra weight.

[dehusman]

Take the shell off, use your fingernail or a small screwdriver to pry the sides of the shell away from the frame above the fuel tanks. You may have to twist and turn it a bit to manuever it around the front coupler.

Remove the big silver weight, it lifts off.

Look and see if there are any loose or non-contacting power feeders on the top of the motor.

Turn the flywheels (the grey round metal things on the ends of the motor) to make sure the mechanism isn't jammed.

Connect anything disconnected and try running it without a shell. If the light lights and the engine doesn't run then there is a definite problem with the motor. If you bought it a local hobby shop see it they will swap out motors with another unit, if you bought it mail order contact the company to see about exchanging it.

All the Athearn drive train parts snap together, so if the mechanism is jammed its pretty easy to disassemble and put back together. You'll have to try pretty hard to kill one.

Dave H.