New Kato engine seems louder than usual.

[Dred123]

I just received a new Kato HO Metra from Train World. It runs fine but after three quarter speed it is much louder than my older Kato engines.

Any thoughts. Hate to return it if its normal. Sure looks good.

Ed

 

[Kusojiji]

I took a look at the parts on the Kato site and it's a standard mechanism and not the dual coreless stuff like the P42 has. Should sound the same as the rest of their stuff. If it gets noisy at higher speed, sounds like a balance issue.

Have you taken the body off and watched if any of the drive train was wobbling?

 

[migalyto]

I havent been in N scale for several years but had a number of Kato locomotives. I noticed that some of the new ones needed run for a while before they would quiet down. I assun=me it would be the same for HO

How long did you run this? I would guess that it needs a break-in period and it will quiet down.

 

[Kusojiji]

Oops, I had assumed HO scale. Same holds true for N, mechanism is their regular stuff used in most of their new locos.

 

[Dred123]

I have about one hour of break in. How long should I try that? Noise is still annoying above 70 on transformer.

 

[Kusojiji]

This is HO. I should try to remember what I read. Anyway, you could take the body off and run it. If you have a rolling road, that would help to see what's wobbling. It's a regular HO mechanism and should be smooth if properly lubed.

Ultimately, if you don't like the sound of it, return it. Don't incur any damage or loss.