Squeaky axle on SD40-2

[Larry]

I had an Athearn Sd40-2 that had a squeeky axle. I had taken it apart about 10 times trying to find out what the problem was. The last time I took it apart the other day the rear axle on the front trucks were dragging on the rails.
That was the 1st time that had happened. After all this time(about 4 months) I finally figured out what the problem was. The metal contact plate on the right side(looking toward the front of the engine from the back) of the trucks was back to far & rubbing the axle causing the squeek. Also the axle was crooked in the housing which was causing the axle to drag on the rail.
I took my Dremel tool & a small metal grinder & took out about a 1/32nd pc. of the metal & Wa-La, fixed the squeek.
It's amazing how a tiny noise can cause so many problems. Now, I know what to look for next time.
The only reason I mentioned this is if someone ever has a squeek again, this might be their problem. Probably never happen again.

 

[malletman]

Glad you figured her out Larry, Tuning Athearns are some of the most enjoyable time I have spent in this great hobby. Get yourself some of the special conduct a lube, its a very light lubricant that helps with electrical power pickup and lube all the bronze axle bushings, it does wonders. If the motor starts to squeel, very common for older Athearns with the gold Jet motor in them, use a Brightboy track cleaner block to polish the comuntator where the brushes ride, it will polish and true it a bit and stop the squeaking. Also, taking metal thrust washers to remove end to end slop in both the motor shaft and worm gears on top of the trucks, does wonders in improving slow speed preformance, they should spin freely, but have little to no end to end play/slop in them. Mike

 

[Larry]

Glad you figured her out Larry, Tuning Athearns are some of the most enjoyable time I have spent in this great hobby. Get yourself some of the special conduct a lube, its a very light lubricant that helps with electrical power pickup and lube all the bronze axle bushings, it does wonders. If the motor starts to squeel, very common for older Athearns with the gold Jet motor in them, use a Brightboy track cleaner block to polish the comuntator where the brushes ride, it will polish and true it a bit and stop the squeaking. Also, taking metal thrust washers to remove end to end slop in both the motor shaft and worm gears on top of the trucks, does wonders in improving slow speed preformance, they should spin freely, but have little to no end to end play/slop in them. Mike

Mike, I already do all of the stuff you mentioned except the contact Lube.
I'll have to get some of that. I do my armatures w/a very narrow metal brush while the engine is running on my test track in front of me on my workbench.
I also polish the flywheels when they are corroded & it takes off all of the unbalances in the motor. I run the engine & use 1000 grit emory paper. I also check all of the brush springs for defects. In used engines that I buy off Ebay & other sites & friends I sometimes find shortened springs, broke springs & no springs at all. I bought a brand new engine off Ebay & it wouldn't run at all. I popped the contact strip off the top & the bottom of the motor & both springs were missing. Replaced them & the engine runs like a well oiled top.

 

[malletman]

Thats a new one, I havent come across one with missing brush springs, but I have seen burnt or ones that have gotten hot and lost thier spring temper. You dont have a truck bottom clip for a DD40 in your box of stuff do ya? I have a EMD Demo DD40 that the truck bottom that holds the coupler on the front truck that the ears are broken off and wont stay on. I just fine tuned a Conrail GP40-2, it runs as quiet as my kato engines. I installed MRC DCC/Sound while it was in the shop, sounds great and runs fine on both DCC and analog. I have 6 units with the 1641 EMD 645e3 boards in Athearn blue box units with no issues. Cheers Mike

 

[Larry]

You dont have a truck bottom clip for a DD40 in your box of stuff do ya? Cheers Mike

No sir, sure don't have 1 of those. You might ask Stang_crazy, he has a lot of those parts.
I also do a lot of fine tuning on Athearns. Just started working on my own engines about 8 years ago & always learn something new everytime I work on 1. It's almost a have-to-do-it to stay in the Hobby, anymore. Most guys won't take the chance because they are afraid they will destroy something. That's the way I was. Then, I decided one day it was to far to go to the Hobby Shop(55 miles 1 way)everytime I had a problem w/an engine.
I got online to the NMRA web site & found the Athearn Tune-up pages.
A friend taught me how to do fine soldering w/a cheap iron & I was on my way. I've hard wired every single engine I have including the other brands.
I also install LED's for all the lighting & just lately have been getting into roof strobes & flashers. Just have to take that initial chance & the rest is history.
I only do DC.

 

[malletman]

Installing all the rooftop flashers ect are fun. I have a real desire to really do up a Kato Amtrak f40ph with proper roof strobes, just havent found the LED's to do it with that will look correct. The little opaque strobe heads on the model are the right scale size, and I have seen some awsome set ups over on youtube, just need to see one in person to see how it looks when they are not flashing. Sure wish Athearn would do a nice F40PH, along with a production run of Via Rail P42's instead of limited runs for Canadian hobby shops, last one on ebay went for just over $400 bucks! Next on my to be aquired list are 2 Conrail SD40-2's from the LHS, one in standard garb, other is a "Conrail Quality" unit. Both are older blue box engines with metal handrails that I prefer. I also have a nice black NW GP9 that looks like a rust bucket, has directional LED lights. I will be soon putting a Tsunami with proper 567 sounds in that one. Cheers Mike