Hi! I have a Bachmann Spectrum GP-30. It runs smoothly, and almost never derails, but there’s an annoying noise it always makes, like a sort of whine. I’ve tried everything i can think of, but am open to any suggestions that anyone may have. Thanks!
-CSXNSLNE
Does it still squeek with the shell off? If it doesn’t than it might be that one of the flywheels is contacting the shell and squeeking.
ok, i’ll check it out, thanks!
you know, ive never had a problem with the “normal” bachmanns, how did they mess up spectrum so badly? good thing they charge you an extra 60$ for them or they would be losing money on the return for repairs alone.
I have a pair of Spectrum GP30s. They squeaked and bucked real bad coming down a 4% grade with a healthy train behind them. The best thing to do is to take out the Spectrum mechanism and get an Athearn GP35 Mechanism under there. (I’m not sure if the brand new RTR GP35 mech. will fit. It should, but you would be on your own.) I did the swap about 8 years ago. Then I filled the shell with lead. They pull like the dickens now. On the club layout 1 will take 45 cars around by itself, up a 1-2% percent grade. Kato Dash 9s have a hard time doing that.
thanks for all the advice guys, i tried a little short - term remedying, and i tried switching the trucks, because i thought that perhaps gears were misplaced. This worked fairly well, but now instead of squealling, they’re just really loud. I also lined the inside of the shell with electrical tape (just a try!) but this seemed to do little to nothing.
Thanks, and any other suggestions are helpful!
oh, and to darth santa fe, i thought it might be that at first, but the flywheels are inside the frame (a split-frame design similar to those found on most n-scale engines)
get rid of it get a proto 2000 gp30
I’m sorry, but that reply probably won’t be very helpful. CSXNSLNE might be attached to his Bachmann GP30. You wouldn’t say anything like, “Throw out your Atlas 8-40B and buy an Overland”, would you?
Try oiling the motor bearings and the worm gear bearings on the trucks - dry bearings there will often cause squeaks. Hope this is of help!
Hi Will…The advice just given by Matt is, I think, right on the money. The shaft bearings on the Spectrum models seem to lose lubrication very quickly. When that happens, they squeek and squeel like a banshee! A small amount of oil to the bearing on both sides of the motor should quiet your loco down. You may have to run the unit a bit to get the oil to do it’s job. This is a fault of the Spectrum line and something that you will have to watch on an ongoing bases. A periodic maintenance schedule for the locomotive will help. Hope this works for you. Did for me!