Hi all,
I have an Athearn GP35 that I have added new trucks and wheels, Eco PNP decoder, speaker, lights, etc. It tested well for a few short runs, but when I turn the speaker off and run the loco forward, it makes a "grinding" noise like the shell (or something) is rubbing against the motor frame. The shell seats down smoothly on the frame with no obstruction. Also, when I run the loco in reverse, I don't hear this noise. When I take the shell completely off, I don't hear this noise. I have looked closely at the frame with the shell on and off, but can't for the life of me find out why I am getting this noise. Any thoughts??
Thanks for checking.
JRP
Any wires rubbing on the flywheels?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Just what "new trucks and wheels" did you add?, and why? And what type of drive shafts did you use? The "spline" type or the "dogbone hex head" type?
Is this a blue box, a RTR, or a Roundhouse Athearn?
The spline type drive shaft has a lot of vibration. The dog bone with the hex head into the flywheel, has much less, if not no, vibration, because it's one piece.
Also check the worm gear, there should be a thrust washer on each end.
I had the same issues with a blue box SD45 and an F7. Close, really close, inspection of the drive shafts and drive train, as the chassie runs without a shell, is how I found out what was rubbing, vibrating, and out of alignment.
Mike.
My You Tube
My experience with that says wire getting caught in the universals. When the shell comes off, no sign or sound. Something moves the wire into contact with one of the universal joints when the shell is on . Check all the wires carefully movingvthem around to reposition them.
my expert with that noise with shell on. Butno sound with shell off
Shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Mike,
Thanks for getting back with me. This is an Athearn RTR I purchased in 2008 and only ran a couple of times. I have now added a decoder, speaker, and also soldered brass contact wires on the trucks flat against the wheels for better pick-up. They are the orginal trucks (I thought I had replaced them, but did not) Looking at the drive shaft it's a dogbone and hex drive. I took the shell off to run just the motor, but now I cannot get the motor to move at all. The "blue" decoder light comes on however, just can't get the darn thing to move. I have carefully looked at each wire attached to the motor and decoder. All are solid, soldered and there is no wire restriction against the flywheels or drive shafts that I can find. Wheels and track are clean. My Digitrax throttle (DCS-50) is working fine. Go figure....
Some of the earlier Athearn RTR engines were "coffee grinders". But those produced during the past ~10 years mostly they have been much better.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Now it won't run at all?
Motor is totally isolated from the frame?
No wires pinched/torn/caught/loose?
Lights work?
The noise does indeed sound like a missing thrust washer, or a rub on something... but if it no longer even runs, it might be something else entirely....
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.
I'm going to test the motor by itself on DC. It that works, and I'm quit certain I have not fried the decoder (blue light still comes on), then I'll put all back together and try again. This fun hobby can be frustrating at times (LOL)