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Atlas GP-38 Austria makes noise

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  • Member since
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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Monday, February 21, 2022 5:57 PM

Great, hopefully that fix will keep it going for a long time!

Southgate 2

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Atlas Roco made in Japan, and Atlas Austria preceded that?  Roco has black gears, Austria has red gears in all the Atlas engines I've ever had. 

What color are the gears in the troubled loco? Dan

Roco is the Austrian manufacturer who made the red gears.  Atlas did get Japanese made trains from Kato for a while before moving to another factory in China.

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Posted by NYBob on Friday, February 18, 2022 5:16 PM

The noise was a cracked gear on the wheel shaft and no replacement is available. The fix was use medium ca glue on the shaft and let it wick into the gear. When dry file off any glue on the shaft so it can rotate freel on the truck frame. So far no noise!! 

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Posted by NYBob on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 2:52 PM

The gears are red. I'll check the wheel gears for splits. 

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Posted by Southgate 2 on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 12:36 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Atlas Roco made in Japan, and Atlas Austria preceded that?  Roco has black gears, Austria has red gears in all the Atlas engines I've ever had. 

What color are the gears in the troubled loco? Dan

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Monday, January 31, 2022 8:45 PM

It could be a split axle gear.  If you can't see it, one way to find it would be to remove one idler gear from the truck (the one that touches the 2nd axle) and run it.  If the noise doesn't go away, swap the front and rear axles and see if that changes anything.  If it does, you know which gear is the problem!

I don't think the newer Atlas parts will fit the old Roco drives unless Atlas still had some Roco parts in stock.  I think NWSL makes the correct gear though, and you might be able to find an original gear or wheelset on eBay or another place that has old parts.

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Posted by NYBob on Monday, January 31, 2022 3:17 PM

I just ordered new gears and other parts from Atlas. Hope it fixes it.

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  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, January 31, 2022 9:34 AM

Maybe check those gears again, real close.  I had an Atlas Master serious GP38 with cracked gears.

Hold on to the wheel on one side, and try to turn the other wheel, etc., and make sure they are not cracked.

You can still get some parts on Ebay, from reputable sellers.

Mike.

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Posted by NYBob on Monday, January 31, 2022 8:28 AM

Thank you, I didn't think of that option. It's weird because it only thumps forward under load. If I can't figure it out it may become a dummy unit. I'm sure it's over 35 years old and hard to get replacement gears.

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Posted by NHTX on Sunday, January 30, 2022 8:48 PM

NYBob,

      Not wanting to sound like a smart-aleck but, what would be the result of swapping the trucks, front-to-rear, rear-to-front?  Since you've done a thorough visual with no visibile cause and it only does it when the engine is goihg forward, by putting the now, front truck in the rear where it will be running in constant reverse.....?  If you've taken the engine apart to check the gears, it may not be too much trouble to swap the trucks end, for end also.  I don't have one of these engines so, I don't know.

t

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Posted by tstage on Sunday, January 30, 2022 8:42 PM

Bob,

Did you try running it with the shell off to see if something became obvious?

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Atlas GP-38 Austria makes noise
Posted by NYBob on Sunday, January 30, 2022 8:33 PM

Front truck makes thumping sound like flat wheel sound only in forward. Took truck cover off, wheel gears look good. 3 other visible gears look good. Possible hidden gear problem? Reverse no noise. I'm stumped. 

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