N Scale Arnold S-2

[Anonymous]

After purchasing my N scale S-2 by Arnold, I have found that the locomotive is much louder than other manufacturer locomotives currently on the market. Does anyone know how to dampen the sound?

[Anonymous]

I have this same problem now that I have disassembled and then put back together my Alco switcher (I used an S2 to kitbash a T6). In my case, I know that the loud noise is because the drive is not seated tightly, as I still need to do a little filing to get everything to fit right.

The motor is connected to shafts that are actually springs, not worm gears. This design allows the teeth of the gear tower to extend up into or through the center of rotation, provided that the spring/gear is held down tight to the gear tower. In my case, my kitbashed nose is slightly too tall, which results in the motor and spring/gear sitting too high relative to the gear tower on the front truck. What's happening is the spring is failing to turn the gear tower and instead just rubs over it like a file, making a lot of noise and no torque. Before I took the thing apart, I test-ran it and it was decently quiet and smooth, so I know that it is possible to get this engine to run well.

Taking this engine apart is a major pain, let me warn you. It is like a little puzzle box. The first step is to pry off the fuel tank casting from between the trucks. Once this is off, you will see two black plastic tabs on the underside of the frame, under each truck. You slide these back to where they meet in the middle in order to release the trucks; once you've slid them out of the way, the truck just drops out, complete with its gear tower. With both trucks out, and the cab removed (you can pry this off at any time; it has tabs on either side that hold it against the hood casting), you can pu***he printed circuit board in the frame towards the cab end to free up the nose casting enough to pry it out. Only then will you be able to access the motor and the spring/gears.

You might take a peek at how tightly the hood casting is mating with the frame, because if it is loose at all then this will serve to disengage the springs from the gear towers. I am guessing that each time one reassembles such a locomotive, it gets a little looser, and thus noisier. I'm wondering now if it is possible to replace the springs with an actual worm gear, since a solid worm would not ride over the gear teeth as readily. Don't know if this helps, but really, I'm looking for some of the same answers as you.

[AltonFan]

I vaguely recall an article in N Scale magazine about improving this loco's drive.

[Anonymous]

Ooo... oo...

You must remember more! Will it require hypnosis? Whatever, just tell me what I need to do...