Just got a new DMIR SD38DC off Ebay last week, have run it a little bit, runs fine, however the motor has gotten a tad louder intermittenly since it has been running. Will go on for a bit after engine stops. (DC) Would lube correct this? Im planning on lubing it which brings me to my next question. i have always been fickle when it comes to taking things apart, what is the best way to take the shell off of an Athearn and Atlas Trainman units? I would assume that you just undo the screws and away you go but just checking.
Also, my Atlas Trainman GP38-2 (amazing runner btw) started acting a tad sluggish and it sounded like a gear was slipping. I ran my finger along the wheel and the front truck was locked in place like normal, but the rear truck had a tad bit of play, and what felt like one gear tooth slip. How would I go about fixing/replacing the gears?
I have a Trainman 38-2. If I remember correctly, all you have to do to remove the shell is remove the coupler box screws and slide the boxes outward through the pilots. The shell should then lift off. I think that there is a half-bell that hangs down on the fireman’s side, so you have to be careful during the shell removal so that you don’t snap this off.
I don’t have one of the SD38’s, but I do have two of the new run SD40-2’s. The shell removal on these is the same as the 38-2. However the headlight wires are taped into the top of the shell, so when you take the shell off you are limited to how far you can separate the pieces once you get them apart. I don’t know if the 40-2 and the SD38 are similar. You should be able to tell from the instruction drawing that came with the model, but sometimes these are not exactly clear.
I’m not sure what you mean about the wheels being locked in place. I just went down and checked my Trainman 38-2 and the wheels in both trucks will move if I try to rotate them until the gears finally lock up. Just eye-balling one end, it appears that the wheel set will rotate about 1/16 inch before the gears lock up. When you rotate the wheels, you are really removing the backlash from every gear between the axle and the worm, so I would consider some of this movement normal. I think I would be more concerned about the axles that apper to be locked. Maybe you got some crud in there?
There is a cover plate that is held in place by a couple of latches that you need to release to get off. It looks like the sideframes are just pressed into place. It also looks like you have to take the shell off, remove the weights, and then remove the upper worm covers to get the truck to drop down out of the frame. I think with a little care and patience you should be able to dismantle the assembly without breaking anything, but you really need to look at the instructions that came with your engine to make sure you understand how it goes together.
Since you’ve bumped the posting twice, I’m not sure if this answers your question. If not, maybe you can be more specific on which part of the question still is not answered.
