Noise From Loco?


PMW

Well-Known Member
I'm getting what I assume is motor noise (but I'm not sure) from my Athearn Genesis GP38-2. This engine is a couple of years old. It makes these sounds at the same places around the layout each time. I don't run it daily but I do run it at least once a week usually more. See video link below.
Any ideas? Thanks!


 
Have you checked the track and wheel gauge with an NMRA gauge?

You possibly could have a gauge problem on one or the other that that's causing issue in that one area. It would be an easy thing to do before you go to a more involved process.

Just a guess, you may have already done that.
I haven't. That didn't occur to me. I also can't find my NMRA gauge :(. I'll get another one this weekend if I haven't found it by then. Just fyi,it didn't make this noise before. It's been on the layout, could the wheels or track have become out of guage under those circumstances?
 
Sounds like the drive is slipping somewhere either on the armature or one of the gear towers, you'll have to remove the bodyshell and see if you can spot what's slipping.
Thanks. I could do that but I'm not sure I would recognize those components. I'm a beginner and haven't had to repair a loco out of warranty before :(. You wouldn't know of any videos that cover something like this would you? :)
 
I haven't. That didn't occur to me. I also can't find my NMRA gauge :(. I'll get another one this weekend if I haven't found it by then. Just fyi,it didn't make this noise before. It's been on the layout, could the wheels or track have become out of guage under those circumstances?
Wonder if its the cold weather (assuming you are in a winter climate). I have had 2 kinky rail joint over the last 2 winters that I have never had in all the years of layout in that basement. Don't know what has changed in the last couple of years but I guess its time to cut some expansion gaps. Never has to before, and it was fine.
 
I'm getting what I assume is motor noise (but I'm not sure) from my Athearn Genesis GP38-2. This engine is a couple of years old. It makes these sounds at the same places around the layout each time. I don't run it daily but I do run it at least once a week usually more. See video link below.
Any ideas? Thanks!


That's a dry bearing.
Remove the shell and put a drop of compatible oil on each motor bearing, and each worm bearing in each truck. Run the engine for a few minutes. It may make the noise again briefly until the oil migrates everywhere it needs to.
 
Wonder if its the cold weather (assuming you are in a winter climate). I have had 2 kinky rail joint over the last 2 winters that I have never had in all the years of layout in that basement. Don't know what has changed in the last couple of years but I guess its time to cut some expansion gaps. Never has to before, and it was fine.
It's been cold but today was unseasonably warm. Most of track joints aren't butted very tight so I think I have plenty of expansion joints already 🤣
 
That's a dry bearing.
Remove the shell and put a drop of compatible oil on each motor bearing, and each worm bearing in each truck. Run the engine for a few minutes. It may make the noise again briefly until the oil migrates everywhere it needs to.
Thanks for your response. I haven't had to do this kind of thing before. Are you aware of a video or something to provide me some guidance?
 
Thanks for your response. I haven't had to do this kind of thing before. Are you aware of a video or something to provide me some guidance?
In your paperwork there should be an exploded diagram which names each part of the loco, (or you can download one).

If your still unsure YT is your friend, look for something like "Servicing a Athearn XXXXX", it doesn't have to be a GP38 they're all pretty similar when the bodyshell is off.
 
In your paperwork there should be an exploded diagram which names each part of the loco, (or you can download one).

If your still unsure YT is your friend, look for something like "Servicing a Athearn XXXXX", it doesn't have to be a GP38 they're all pretty similar when the bodyshell is off.
Thanks. Yes, I found some YT vids on removing the shell but none about lubricating the parts mentioned. I will check the manual....I should have thought of that 😦
 
Here is a picture of what Athearn says to lubricate.

Screenshot (375).png


I was able to put oil (Labelle 108) on the inner most points shown. On the pair of lubricating points at each end I could only access the inner point of each pair. The sound is gone in forward but is still there in reverse 🙁.

Unfortunately I cannot find anything online specifically about this. Any thoughts? Thanks
 
After work today I ran it just out of curiosity. Seems good forward but still makes the noise in reverse except at low speed. It’s also making a new noise in reverse. 🤪

I have emailed Athearn about sending it for repair/service 🤷. I won’t hear back until next week anyway but I’ll let you guys know what I find out at some future point.

Thanks to everyone for your help 😃
 
Ah, if you wanted me to notice that you said to oil the gears in the trucks, I did that. Or are you suggesting I run it longer? I was afraid to run it more than a few minuets in case I was causing damage. Please advise. Thanks
This is one of those occasions when a Rolling Road comes in handy. It allows you to get down to eye level without chasing the loco around the layout to see or hear what and where the problem is.
 



Back
Top