ModelRailroadForums.com is a free
Model Railroad Discussion Forum and
photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Most of my Diesels are P2K and I love there detail and performance. Most of the P2Ks replaced my "blue box" Athern as the atherns were always noisy.
Now I have a few issues. I have 5 GP18's and 2 of them are makeing a click sound in curves and thru turnouts. Also on one end on each loco the trucks will hop on curves. I figure its the gears but not shure if its the worm or the straight cut gears? is this a know problem? most of them have a good amount of run time on them? my layout has mostly 22" radius but has 18" in one spot
I've got a proto 2k GP-7 that makes the clicking sound all the time but does not hop the track so Ill be watching this post to see what some of the old heads say.
If they are original run engines, it could be the axle gear has split. This is a known problem with Proto 2k engines and walthers is very good about shipping replacement parts out to fix this. My Dad had to do it with several of his GP7/9/30 models.
To check, remove the cover on the bottom of the offending truck and look at the gear the axle passes through. If it is split, remove it from the truck and call walthers to arrange to have it replaced.
Hope that helps.
If Walthers is good about it, I'd suggest just asking for all new parts, not just replacing the split one. Don't want to get a month down the line and split another.
Check the gearbox it could have opened, I had that problem on my RS-3, just out of the box, every time I increased speed, it didn't click, but it was powerless. Checl shafts, flywheels and gears, normally clicking sounds come from gears, especially if the reapeating is timed.
Definatly sounds like cracked gears to me. My P2Ks always made the clicking sound around the corners, but fine on the straight track. Then, I let it run for approx 30 minutes, and the thing was clicking and jumping all over the track.
Call 1-800-4-TRAINS and tell them that you have a <fill in the blank> with cracked axle gears. They'll send you replacements for free, and they'll be there within about a week.
Take the other members' advice. Don't just replace the cracked ones. Get a whole new set for the locomotive.
Phil
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website
(Learn More Here)
