Hunting the worm gear box..

[jacon12]

I took the shell off my P2K E6, thought it would be a simple job to put a little grease in the worm gear. But where the heck is it? On my Kato SD-40 it was right there but it looks like this one is buried..

under speakers and the circuit board. Is this what I'll have to do to get to it and is this typical these days of dcc and sound?
Jarrell

[twhite]

Did you check to see if the underside of the trucks snap off? If they do, then you can lube the axle gears and it will be transferred to the worm gear. Boy, they sure don't make locomotives easy to get into, today, do they? I wonder if the people who design the locomotive mechanisms are the same people that put the teeny-tiny microscopic icons on the windows of digital cameras? If so, SOMEONE needs a reality check, LOL!
Tom

[jacon12]

Tom, I haven't checked that but I will. I was surprised at the dismal instructions that came with this particular P2K. Didn't Walthers or someone buy them out? I wonder if I if they still have a website, maybe I can ask them via email.
Thanks for the help.
Jarrell

To answer my own question about LifeLike, yep... Walthers bought them out and none of the links to LifeLikes web site seem to work anymore.

[cacole]

Most gear boxes and worm gears already have sufficient lubrication, so unless it's squeaking, I would advise you to leave it alone. If you try to open it up and break something, you might invalidate your warranty.

Since Walthers has taken over, you have to go through them with any questions about LifeLike products.

I just hope Walthers continues the warranty policy that LL had in the past, because I always received excellent response from them. In most cases, they sent free replacement parts without question, and they even paid the postage.

[bogp40]

Jarrel,
Haven't had to grease any of my P2K's except the SD7"s that have had countless hours of continuous running at shows. As Cacole says leave it unless there is a problem.
The weight has to be removed to access the worm cover 90% of the time anyway. If you really need to lube it, remove the bottom cover- the latches can be a bit tricky an use care not to break anything. Don't remember offhand if the SD and E truck has 2 or 3 latches per side of the truck/ gear case.
Bob K.

[Anonymous]

October MR has Walthers ad for "Proto 2000" equipment, an E-Mail to Walthers might be an appropriate first step in answering the question of support of past product, and an idea as to current product "support".
Will

[jacon12]

I sincerely appreciate the advice and suggestions. The engine is exhibiting a good bit of 'jerkiness', for lack of a better word. It's easily seen when watching a car that is a couple of cars behind the locomotive, kind of a very very quick lateral movement back and forth. I placed a drop of oil on the wheel bearings but it didn't help. I've owned it about 3 weeks and I doubt if it has been run over 30 minutes (total actual running time). Could be it just needs breaking in more. I'll try that and if it doesn't settle down I'll contact Walthers.
Jarrell