I just bought a New York Central GP-9 Diesel Engine from a train show here in Springfield Ohio. I have had it about two months now. The problem I am having is most of the time it will run faster going backwards then forwards. Going forward with my ZW the fastest it will go is a crawl and then it comes to a stop with the transformer at full throttle. I have taken it apart, cleaned it oiled it and greased it and still I have the same problem. I have cleaned the track and cleaned the electrical pickups and still the same problem exists. The engine is new and was still in the box and I could tell that it hadnt been used. I have not seen this engine listed on the lionel website and I emailed them and asked them why. Their reply was that the engine is probably over ten years old and that they dont continue to list all their engines after they reach that age. This engine cannot possibly be ten years old. If it is the person I bought it from did a beautiful job in restoring the box and the labels. I have been thinking about taking it in and letting my local train repair man take a look at it. Out of the six trains I have this one is one of my favorites and I really want to see it run properly. Any help is appreciated. Greg
Greg,
What is the model number? 6-XXXXXX
Is the engine TMCC equipped?
Is the engine ODESSEY equipped?
It sounds like the engine has TMCC and the momentum or max speed setting is set too low.
If you do not have TMCC I would recommend calling a few train stores in your area and see if they can reset it for you.
Does it have DC or AC/DC motor(s) If its an AC motor most times its the brush’s and Brush springs. If it has DC not so easy to tell without seeing it.
Hi Brent,
the model number is 6-8477
okay guys heres a diagram of what he has it says its an ac-dc wound motor believe to be pull-mor type
http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/18477Complete.pdf
engine is acually 21 years old it from 1988 . Theres one on ebay now with a buy it now for $200.00 I think thats a bit steep but book (greenburgs pocket) says $145- $195 .
Its not a bad looking engine from what i can see I have the 6-18563 number 2380 on the cab but mine is tmcc and from 1996 but I’m going to have to change the tmcc out as it has gone bad.
heres one like I have on ebay and they only have a $99.99 starting bid and no bids yet and ends tonight
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160315450867
First check to see if the engine is slipping in forward. ie. if you apply a force down on it will it proceed at a higher speed? The single motor units seem to slip under load.
If not do the following; take the motor out of the gear train and cycle the direction switch; If the motor travels at the same rate of rotation it is ok, the problem is in the gear train. there may be binding issues in the truck assembly. Especially if this one is made with plastic gears. I had a GN RS-3 single motor that had this issue. I replaced the gears and it went away.
If the motor rotation is different forward to reverse then the problem could be the electric E unit. These are easy to replace. I have had issues with bad electronic E units.
To Check if the motor is bad apply voltage directly to the motor 12 Volts D.C. Reverse the polarity and see if you see any difference. There could be a brush alignment issue.
It doesn’t have what I call electric e unit it has the old type if you look at the diagram by lionel in my post above. Now not saying it couldn’t be the culpret but I would more agree on the gears I even had a metal gear set get a burr and it did what your saying ran great one direction and basicly binded up the other.
This has magna traction so the pushing down for traction I doubt is a problem and it has the pul mor motor so it has enough weight its not a can type.
Yeah I have had really good luck with the ole Pul mor motors, they seem to be indestructable. So no electronic e unit… hmmm no your right most older e units work very well…I would inspect the gears then.
Applying DC to a universal motor is okay; but you can’t reverse it by reversing the polarity. In any case, you would doubtless find it easier to test it with AC.
But before you try that, look at the armature as you run the locomotive on the track in both directions. Does it move up going one way and down going the other way? If so, your problem may be a missing thrust bearing in the motor. As the motor turns, the worm on the bottom end of the motor shaft screws the armature up or down, depending on which way you’re going. The thrust bearings are supposed to keep the armature in the middle of the motor, give or take a little. When one of them is missing or faulty, it doesn’t do its job of restraining the armature in one direction; so the armature runs into and rubs against whatever else is there; and the friction slows or stops it.
Hello Tex!
Your 8477 was made in 1985 as that is when I picked up mine at the Hobby House in Cleveland. Anyway, one of the Brush Springs must not be pressing hard enough on the Brush in order for proper electrical contact to be made & this will cause a Pullmore Motor to run Better one way instead of both ways. Your best bet may be to have both Brush Springs replaced & after that, Your 8477 should run like a top. Give it a try & see what happens. Take Care.
According to the information that I can locate on that engine it is from 1984, GP-9 NYC and is an uncataloged item. Don’t say how many motors or anything else, not even if it is for O gauge or 027 track, does have the prices listed. Info taken from page 126 of the 2006 Greenberg’s pocket price guide to Lionel Trains.
I bought an uncataloged GP-7 from Lionel around 1996 for IC(Illonios Central) and it had one motor and could hardly pull anything so I sold it on ebay. Your story sounds similar to mine.
Lee F.
Thanks Lee for the information. My GP-9 has the pulling power (when it runs forward). I know this engine has only one engine since I have taken it apart enough times. I just called a local repairman and he is going to take a look at it this weekend. I will post the out come of this evaluation. Thanks a lot for your input. Greg
Thanks to all of you trying to help with my problem. Your help is greatly appreciated. I am taking it to a repairman this weekend and I will post the outcome for all of you to see. Thanks for everything guys.
The 8477 was slated for production in 1984. however, it did not show up on Dealers Shelves until the Spring of 1985 as Lionel was moving part of its production back to Michigan from Mexico due to problems stemming from the move to Mexico in the first place. Good luck with your 8477, Tex. There should not be too much wrong with it anyway & your serviceman will be able to find out what is wrong. Take care.