What good references/sources are out there to help smooth an engine? And while I am at it, what sources for good instructions on lubing engines.
I just bought a kit Athearn diesel and an Athear RTR diesel. I have let each run in circles for an hour or two to work in. The RTR is fairly smooth running and will probably get even better. The kit is a bit rough, noisy and jerky.
Thanks! These are the first engines I have purchased. My others were gifts, so I don’t know what they were like brand new.
Email, fax, and write to the manufacturer requesting this information included with each and every loco sold. This information is critical and should be included. As we are not all life long model railroaders and we’ve all started from step one.
Well I’m not sure about the Athearn “kit” engine…I’m guessing you maybe bought an Athearn Genesis engine and an Athearn “blue box” engine perhaps?? The blue box ones are less expensive and have been around for many years. The current ones are relatively unchanged from the seventies. They’re not bad really (some are better than others, just luck of the draw) but the Genesis ones are much better runners. You can do some things to make a blue box engine run better - there was a book out called “Model Railroading with Athearn” a while back that goes into detail on different things you can do to improve them; not sure if it’s still in print or not?? But, it’s possible if one is a Genesis that the Genesis engine will always run better than the blue box.
Blue box kit is correct. The other does not include the word Genesis; just ‘ready to roll’.
I will email Athearn. They should have some suggestions.
Thanks!
Ah, OK. “RTR” in model railroading usually means “ready to run”. I believe the only difference between Athearn’s “kits” and “ready to roll” engines are that in the “kits” you have to add a few parts yourself like the window inserts etc. whereas with “ready to roll” that’s done at the factory. Except for that they’re the same blue box engines. BB’s can be a little hit and miss, one will roll great and the next might sound like an old coffee grinder.
I don’t know that anyone here can give you a detailed step-by-step guide on improving the one engine - easier if you can find a book or online source with pictures. You can disassemble the engine (they’re not that complicated - new ones normally come with an “exploded diagram” of the parts) and sand / file any burrs you see on the gears, and lubricate everything and see if that helps. Athearn BB engines have sliding pieces of metal to conduct electricity; removing them and soldering wire connections can help the engine pick up power better and run so run better. If really necessary you can buy a new motor designed to replace the Athearn one, new gears, and even put in new trucks.
Like I said earlier, Athearn has been making pretty much the same engine for longer than many of us have been alive, so their should be plenty of info out there on tweaking the engine to work better. (BTW I generally break in engines by running them 15 minutes one direction, then reversing for 15 minutes. A couple of hours isn’t really necessary, although a balky engine sometimes will run better over time.)
This Athearn tune up is pretty good If you want to do some tweaking to the BB locomotives. If your engine is brand new, you probably won’t have to do the motor tune up but the site is a good reference for later use.
The tune up page is a great resource. Thank you!
I have a lot to learn… Sucks being new!
That tune up site is awesome!!! Can’t wait to save it on my laptop as a favorite.