Spectrum GP30

[soumodeler]

I have an Spectrum GP30 that I would like to run on my layout. There is just this slight problem of the hideous wailing sound it makes every time I turn it on. I have taken it apart totaly and checked over all the parts. The motor fits within the frame and nothing goes past it. I ran it without the shell and I ran fine, about like an Athearn. I put the shell back on, and the wailing started again. Took it off, ran fine. Everything is WELL greased and turns smoothly. What could this be? Is there anything I can do to fix it?

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!
http://www.trainweb.org/mgr

[countershot]

That sound like my sd-9 does the same thing... when you find out tell me please

[Anonymous]

I have three Spectrum GP30's with decoders, I never had a problem with them, smooth and quiet runners!

[Anonymous]

The problem is and unbalanced flywheel. Take your shell off and watch it run. See if the flywheel wobbles or see if the driveshaft vibrates at high speed. One of my Spectrum Dash 8s had this problem.

[Anonymous]

This is kind of unrelated, but I'm curious. Does your loco have a center mounted motor with driveshafts driving both trucks? I have an old Bachman GP-30 that has the motor mounted on and drivng the front truck only. I am thinking of using an Athearn frame and drive to power this unit as the presnt motor will hardly pull the loco itself. The shell, however, has pretty good detail, it is in ATSF red warbonett. As for your problem, it sounds like something is hitting the shell. The shell will amplify a small noise to levels you would not believe.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by soumodeler

I have an Spectrum GP30 that I would like to run on my layout. There is just this slight problem of the hideous wailing sound it makes every time I turn it on. I have taken it apart totaly and checked over all the parts. The motor fits within the frame and nothing goes past it. I ran it without the shell and I ran fine, about like an Athearn. I put the shell back on, and the wailing started again. Took it off, ran fine. Everything is WELL greased and turns smoothly. What could this be? Is there anything I can do to fix it?

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!
http://www.trainweb.org/mgr

Try putting some masking tape on the inside of the shell, both side around the flywheel area. Most frequenty cause of this noise is a flywheel rubbing on the shell.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tweet469

This is kind of unrelated, but I'm curious. Does your loco have a center mounted motor with driveshafts driving both trucks? I have an old Bachman GP-30 that has the motor mounted on and drivng the front truck only. I am thinking of using an Athearn frame and drive to power this unit as the presnt motor will hardly pull the loco itself. The shell, however, has pretty good detail, it is in ATSF red warbonett. As for your problem, it sounds like something is hitting the shell. The shell will amplify a small noise to levels you would not believe.

The Spectrum diesels have all wheel drive with a centrally located flywheel equipped motor - except the early GE 44t and 70t models. The recent Bachmann Plus and Silver series diesels, and current Standard diesels also have a centrally located flywheel equipped motor.

If you use an older blue box Athearn GP35 chassis, you will have to mill the frame to fit into the scale width Bachmann shell. A-line/PPW has frames for the Bachmann shell that accept Athearn drivetrains. The new RTR Athearn GP35 chassis will probably fit. GP30 and GP35 have the same truck spacing.

[GN-Rick]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tweet469

This is kind of unrelated, but I'm curious. Does your loco have a center mounted motor with driveshafts driving both trucks? I have an old Bachman GP-30 that has the motor mounted on and drivng the front truck only. I am thinking of using an Athearn frame and drive to power this unit as the presnt motor will hardly pull the loco itself. The shell, however, has pretty good detail, it is in ATSF red warbonett. As for your problem, it sounds like something is hitting the shell. The shell will amplify a small noise to levels you would not believe.

I have done this conversion a couple of times in the past. It works
very well. I also improved the detail during the process by changing out the
radiator and dynamic brake fans and replacing them with Details Associates
parts. I also replaced the handrails with the Smokey Valley GP30 set.
I did these conversions in the 80's and still these models fit in well with the
excellent models being made today. One other thing, I changed the Athearn
drives out and replaced them with Kato GP35 drives in the late '90s-mostly
because I acquired two extra ones-they are nice!

[soumodeler]

The flywheels are well balanced. I can set it in my hand and it runs without a wobble on high speed. The flywheels dont come out past the weights and the body fits smoothly over the weights. I have placed the motor back in the frame, and cliped power leads to the frame and turned it on. It ran smoothly and I turned it in several directions. The flywheel on one side it too close to the motor and is hitting the metal opening which the drive shaft goes through, but only when standing on end. After messing with it for a few seconds, I noticed a tingling feeling in my fingers and realized that the frame was shocking me! I wont do that one again.

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!
http://www.trainweb.org/mgr

[orsonroy]

Step 1: thwor it away. Bachmann diesels are horrible.
Step 2: go to the Trainworld website, look at the "blowouts" section, and buy a P2K GP30 for $30.
Step 3: enjoy a MUCH better engine that you don't have to fool with.

[Anonymous]

I have a Specturm GP30 from the very first batch that came over from China. It runs very well, but makes some odd noises. Pulls great, runs smoothly, sounds like a coffee grinder! Deal with it or do like orsonroy says, I guess.

[soumodeler]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

Step 1: thwor it away. Bachmann diesels are horrible.
Step 2: go to the Trainworld website, look at the "blowouts" section, and buy a P2K GP30 for $30.
Step 3: enjoy a MUCH better engine that you don't have to fool with.

If you pay for it, I would rather have that one. Right now, buying anything besides track is not an option. It sure would be nice to have that $2000 shopping spree.[sigh]Having an income would help too.

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!
http://www.trainweb.org/mgr

[Anonymous]

Bachmann Spectrum locos are pretty good when they're behaving properly - I have one of their Dash 8s which is quiet and smooth - bit of a "hair trigger" throttle response though you can work around this - just requires fine control! It'll pull pretty much anything you hook behind it too - have had it out-haul a pair of Athearn BB Dash 9s. One question: is this more of a growling/rattling noise than a wail? Mine does this at high speeds and I think it's probably the shell vibrating - at normal service speeds it doesn't happen. Hope this helps!

[soumodeler]

I have fixed part of the problem. The wailing has gone, but dont ask me how I did it. There is still a lot of noise and I took out the light board and that helped, but not enough. What would be a good material to put in there it keep down the noise? Foam?

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!