hello everyone
i got a q. for anyone is good on ho gauge. me and my son were running all the engines that we got and came across a f3 engine that has a rappid click when its running wheels are smooth on the track no jumping at all and its comming from the engine inside what can i/we do to get it to stop thanks chad from pittsburgh pa. at the trainstation/home
I think you have something rubbing against one of the internal gears. It may be a piece of plastic, a wire, a retaining clip improperly seated, or maybe even a split gear…it happens.
Crandell
Sounds like you have a cracked gear. Who is the locomotive manufacturer? Some of them have noted problems with gears cracking and may send you a replacement set free of charge. If not free, they are relatively inexpensive. Remove the shell, then run is slowly to determine which truck it’s coming from.
My guess is a cracked gear as well. Running it with out a shell is the first step.
Cuda Ken
Some of the early production Life Like Proto 2000 (P2K) and Proto 1000 engines, including the Proto 1000 F-3, had a problem with the gears splitting – and the result was exactly the sort of clicking that you describe. It does not alas get better.
Fortunately Walthers, which now owns Life-Like, has recently re-stocked a supply of replacement wheels with gears on the axles that are intended to be used with, among other things, the F-3. Assuming that is the make of F-3 that you have, you may want to ask your dealer to order this for you:
For Early PROTO 2000(R) BL, FA, E8, GP7/9/18/20/30/60 & PROTO 1000™ F3
Walthers Part # 920-584408
HO scale, $5.98, currently in stock at Walthers
Take a look at the picture on the Walthers website and see if that doesn’t look like your wheels
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-584408
Dave Nelson
Thanks so much for clearing up the mystery of the clicking locos. I have 2 Proto engines, one GP-9 and an RS-2. My F-3 A & B seem to be OK.
I will order up some replacements ASAP.
Jim Robinson