P2K SD9 Noisy Gears/ Axles ? (not split)

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Well , after being so concerned about the shell details of this P2K SD9, turns out it has a serious noise problem. I couldn’t tell in DC because the lub was so old and thick, the thing barely moved at any speed.

However, with the decoder in and a proper cleaning, lube and inspection, it gets up to speed but has a terrific gear or axle howl at mid speed. I entirely dissasembled the trucks and cleaned and inspected every gear right away.

It is quieter at high speed, but definitely too noisy otherwise.

Now, this loco has not had much use at all. It sat unused for ages, apparently.The lube was thickened from age, not use. There is no visible wear on any parts.

The three axle gear box is the kind with the long brass/bronze? axle bearing power pick ups…with the wider center axle gear hubs, narrow gear plates, and small diameter axle ends…(not the bronze “box” bearings and thick axles with wider center axle plates.)

The axle gears are in fine shape. Nothing loose there. The motor and shafts/flywheels seem ok and rev up noiselessly on their own…no noticeable vibration.

I have never had a P2K make so much noise. Is it going to stop? I doubt it! I don’t think this is a run in issue…I have never had a P2K that made any noise before breaking in.

I don’t know what gives. Something is too loose as far as I can tell. It is not a binfding issue, but a “floppy” issue I suspect. I think the smaller width gears may be unmeshing under certain speeds or something. Anyway I hope I can do something with this other than run it at a creep or full throttle.

Is is ever a good idea to pack in some heavier lithium lube, for example, over the light gel I use?

2

Cisco

I have a P2K E3 and FA/B units and they both have run quiet as a mouse since day one and these things have hardly been used at all. I say call Walthers and see if they will do something for you. They are usally good like that.

3

Could it be the shell resonating and not a gear noise? Both my SD9 run smooth but one had a rattle that turned out to be the shell resonating. A piece of elecric tape inside the shell did the trick. I also glued the walkway to the shell.

Pete

4

Thanks, guys. No, that is not my problem and that is why I am so surprised.

I have 34 P2K locos. I have only a couple others that have a noisy shell and the rest are sweethearts.

This makes noise with the shell off…but no noise with the universal gears disengaged…so it doesn’t seem to be the motor etc. Seems to me like the sound of some sloppy fit somewhere in the truck/gear box, sideframe. [|(]

I dunno. I kind of think this is the style of sideframe/axle assembly to blame, or the narrower gear plates. I never heard such a noise from the other style of axle assemble/gearbox.

5

Well thats cool that you fixed it so quick, something we all tend to do is forget to look at the simple things first,

6

No, you may have misread something. It is still sitting on the workbench, while I hope for an answer.

I may just try to fill up the gear box with heavy lithium grease and see what happens.

7

I wouldn’t discount any possible motor noise just because it runs free and quiet while disconnected from the drive. The load of the remaining drive on the motor could allow a loose fitting magnet to be the culprit. This is very rare but does happen especially w/ the Athearn and P2K “clone”. Don’t know what else to tell you. I have never had any problems with my SD7s other than extermely tight worm covers causing tight trucks. A simple fix.

8

Thanks for the info. I think I can pretty well hear the noise coming from down in the trucks when I get down and listen at track level. And when really revved up, the noise stops (although like a good spinning out of balance wheel or washing machine, I know it can quiet down at higher revs)

Neverthless, I have never heard of this extremely tight worm gear cover problem and I haven’t checked for it. How or what is the easy fix? Do you mean the worm gear is actually impeded? Can it cause a sound like howlng gears?