i just received an older athearn blue box gp38-2, it runs good but kind of loud would lubricating help reduce the noise and can wahl’s clipper oil be used for this
thanks
mark
I would use (and do) Dexron/Mercon transmission oil. It’s plastic compatible and resists slinging off. Open up the bottom of the trucks and put a small drop on each of the axle gears. Use a toothpick to apply a small a small drop to each motor bearing.
The best thing for an older BB taht’s been sitting for a while is to clean the wheels and run it, and run it and after that run it some more. I have many older engines that years ago I had fine tuned and had them running excellent. Even did that “Pearl Drops” routine, don’t think it did much. Cleaning out the gearcase and relubing w/ Labelle 106 probably helped more. With continuous use they did run fantastic. But I would let them sit for 6 months or so and they would sound pretty much like yours. A re breaking in after running and they would come back to running as always. Don’t really know how this happens, can only guess.
Do break it in a bit even running up on a test track, don’t be afraid of even Full “notch 8” forward for a bit then reverse. Lube w Labelle light oil, 1 drop on motor shaft, worm bushings and toothpick drop @ wheel/ axle bushings. Labelle 106 (grease w/ teflon) in the worm and gear case. Only a small amount. Don’t want to pack it in. If the unit doesn’t smooth out and quiet down, you may need additional work on the motor brushes and commutator/ armature staves. This is easily done but cleaning the 5 poles w/ a pencil eraser. I have turned the commutator by 1000grit wet or dry strip folded over a thin piece of styrene. Run up the motor and turn/ polish the staves. Don’t mess w/ clipping brush springs as some will reccomend. You may loose the brush, spring force on the armature. A decent break-in will also wear the curvature to the brush and ensure a decent contact. What you don’t want to see is excessive arcing.
thanks sounds like a good mini project
mark
i have been running the engine back and forth at top speed for about 20 minutes and there is a difference in sound already
Noise in Athearns can be caused by bits of plastic flash inside the gear towers on each truck. Disassemble each gear tower and clean it. Wipe each tooth of each gear with a pipe cleaner. You will see a few flecks of black plastic turn up on the pipe cleaner. Inspect the gears for bits of flash or crud jammed in between the gear teeth. While you have it apart, check for flash on the U joints and make sure the motor is seated properly. Sometimes that rubbery motor pad/retainer/thingie isn’t flat and the motor has a tilt fore and aft. This tilt will make the U joints run at a stiffer angle. They don’t like that, and make noise.