I have a Atlas S-1 that is making a loud clicking,snapping noise in one direction only. has DCC installed no sound. any ideas? thanks FA-1
Cracked gear or something loose in the drive train. Remove the shell, and look carefully at everything. Have it crawling at its slowest speed possible, and see if anything is "popping back into place" so to speak, when the click/snap happens. Once you have ruled out anything above the frame, it will be something in the trucks. Start above frame, work your way down.
I had one, where the gear tower had come loose, and when it got to a certain spot, it would fall back into place. Simply needed the screws re-tightened. That's why I say to start top side, then work down.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
You need to remove the shell. The motor thrust changes direction with polarity. It sounds like there is a small play in the motor drive. A little is normal. This movement is causing an interference. With the shell off, you can see or hear where it is coming from. It also may be because the wires are getting caught in the drive. If that is the case the noise may not continue with the shell removed.
Good luck
Larry
www.llxlocomotives.com
So many trains, so little time,
Took shell off nothing obvious. noise seems to come from tower on long hood end FA-1
A clicking sound is typical of something mechanical going kafooey. With the shell off and running slowly on a test track, you should see something "bouncing". My gut feel is that it is in the trucks however, and to really get a feel for that you need to set the loco upside down (on a towel cradle) and feed two powered wires to the trucks to see them move.
Of course a disassembly of the trucks could easily point out the problem - broken gear, out of position wheelset, etc., etc.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
thanks everyone for help. further disassembly of truck wheels revealed a split gear in one wheelset. Atlas no longer does parts for this loco. #807301 wheel. called my LHS & he just did the same repair for someone last month. Northwest Short Line makes them [set of 4] they are on order. thanks again FA-1