Proto 2000 PA howling?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I recently bought a used set of Proto 2000 PA/PB units (A-B-A) 1 PA NH #0763 (someone stripped the paint from it) 1 PA and 1 PB undec

I was checking over the drive system while I wait for the paints I ordered for them to arrive.
I run the engine at anything less than 25mph on my Tech II Railpower 1400 or at less than 15mph on my Tech 4 260 and it sounds like a normal drive train.
However, if I push it anywhere past those speeds the rear truck starts to make a howling noise and I cna’t figure out where it’s comming from. I checked the gears for oil/grease and they were ok.
I know it’s not my tight 18" (yes I know it’s 18" but on a 4x8 I can’t fit much else) because I gave it a good run down my 5ft+ straight test track.

Any ideas/suggestions would be much appreciated.

P.S. if anyone else has these units would it be possible to get a copy on the parts diagrams etc. as mine didn’t come with any

Thanks in advance [:)]

2

I’m not sure I follow your logic"I know it’s not the curves because I ran it on the straight". I would say it is the 18" radius putting side pressure on the axles causing misalignment in the gears. See if you can find a layout with 24 or better and see if it still does it…

3

I have a P2K PA1 and it runs just fine on 18" radius curves. No slowing, no howling certainly. Might be a good idea to check the bearings. They’re the same as Athearn uses.

4

If the unit where howling because of the 18" radius curves there would be no reason for it to howl going down 5ft of perfectly straight track.

jeffrey-wimberly thanks for the suggestion I never thought about the bearings…just replaced the end one and no more noise [:)] thanks a bunch.

P.S. don’t suppose you could photocopy the diagrams and such for disassembly for me?

5

Not a chance. It took me an hour just to get part of the weight off. I stopped at that.