Hi all… got a athearn bb sd40-2 from my granddaddy[:D] for x mas…spent last night putting it together[B)]…took it out for the break in run today and I must say OH MY GOD [:0][:0][:0] This is the most hiddious sounding loco that I have ever heard[xx(][V][:(!]…The thing has this grinding sound that really sux!!! OK Ill quit ranting about it. Here is the question…is there any thing that I can do to get rid of this sound? If I cuuld post a sound I woule cause man it dont sound healthy at all. any help is thanked Cheers J.W.
It’s to be expected from an Athearn BB. There are cures, though I don’t know any.
Welcome to the jungle! [:D]
Try oiling it a bit, and if that doesn’t help, it’s just how it is.
Take it back apart, completely, check all the gears, universals, etc, for flash and other foreign objects… Also check for a broken gear. Make sure too that the trucks are properly seated on the frame. Make sure you note where everything goes if you are inexperienced at this… Before you do that though, make sure it still makes noise with the shell On the loco… Even BB Athearns shouldn’t sound like a thrashing machine… I have several and while not as quiet as my Katos, they are still relatively quiet. Something is wrong.
Jeff
Do what rolleiman suggests. While the truck is apart, thoroughly wash everythbing. Then get some peral drops (toothpaste) and put a few drop in, run the loco around awhile, the toothpaste is slightly abrasive and will help break in the gears. Then take it apart, wash again and lubricate with plastic compatible oil.
I would also hard wire the pickups and get rid of the metal clips. Also, check the sound with body on and off, sometimes its the body making the noise. If it is, you can try electrical tape between the body and the frame.
Good luck
Rick
Another thing to try is to wrap the motor itself in a thin foam, like those flexible packing foam sheets to help keep the motor from Vibrating against the body. I also recomend hardwiring in place of the locomotive clip(Taking out the long metal bar that runs over the top of the motor and to the trucks, and then soldering normal wire in it’s place.)
By the way, what road is the 40-2 painted for? Just curious.
Noah
Noah…its painted for csx…the 2nd scheme…thanks also for the davice…ill try to do this this evening will rreport the findings later…thenks J.W.
I would take it back and exchange it for a loco that runs like it should.
But an Athearn is not that hard to quiet down.
gtr
Remotor it.
ICMR
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
OK fellow model railroaders…I have great news to report…[:D][8D][:P]… I took off the coupler mounts…got the shell off…started to nose around to see what could be wrong[%-)]…lo and behold there was the issue…that metal strip that comes from the light to the long strip down the lenght of the loco…the one that comes from the light was bent down to one side[:O]…got the plate bent back where it should have been and ran the loco with no shell…man that thing ran quiet as could be…[:)][:D][^]…put the shell back on and the coulpers as well and went back to the track…with fingers crossed i gave it juice…no grind…no sweek.no sound but what a loco should sound like…to top it all off the loco is more quiet than my bachmann u boat…man am i glad I did not have to take it all the way apart…thanks for the help …
J.W.
Whose house? Rolleiman’s house!