Hello, I just purchased one of the new FVM regular cab GP60 locomotives and had something happen that I had not seen before. I took it out of the box, looked it over including checking the wheel gauge and coupler height and everything looked great, but when I set it on the track and turned the power on, the rear wheels on the front truck raised up off the rails and the whole front truck was locked tilted forward. I was able to brake it free but it happened twice more, again moving forward and once trying to run it in reverse. I was about to put it back in the box and return it, but thought I would try once more moving the truck side to side and gently pulling it up and down. What ever I did must have worked because it now runs fine. Since then I have ran it four times even after moving the truck around by hand and it still working fine. I was just wondering if anyone knows why this may have happened and if it's something that I need to worry about happening again. I really like this locomotive, it runs very quiet at slow speeds and very little noise at high speed (about like an Atlas). The detail is outstanding and my NS version has front and back ditch light that work! I am very impressed with what FVM is doing in N scale. Anyway sorry to be so long winded, but I was just wanting know what may have happened. Ralph
Sounds like a gear binding-type issue. Maybe a bur on a gear or foreign object between gears that has since cleared? Or, perhaps two gears (wheelset axle and idler?) are mal-aligned and are perhaps sometimes slipping off on another and then binding? On some locos, the gear on the wheelset axle can be adjusted to one side or another (perhaps too much) depending on how the wheels were gauged. I suppose it's even possible that, if an axle gear is too far to one side, it could be hitting the cutout on the bottom of the sideframe casting.
Thanks for your reply. I sinncerly hope that it's the former and not the later because I really like this locomotive and would hate to send it back. However I do have a FVM gp60m that I really screwed up trying to fix a gear/motor issue that I could use a truck from, although I would have to swap out the truck cover ( it's silver and this one is black ). I have done that once on an Atlas gp38 so if it's put together the same way, I at least have some learned experience from that (based on good advice I got from the great people here also). I guess this is just one of those things that only time will tell. But thanks again for your reply,it gives me an idea what to look for. Ralph
The latter should be pretty easy to fix too. If it is indeed an axle gear positioned too far to one side, it should be a simple matter of adjusting how far into the axle sleeve both wheels are set (or not set). That said, I haven't had a truck from the FVM GP60 apart yet, so I'm kind of basing all this off of, say, an Atlas truck and wheelset. But, if you're problem is gone maybe there's no need to fuss. ...regarding your GP60M, have you tried contacting FVM to see if they can help with replacement parts for whatever happened to that unit? Would be unfortunate to have to resort to parting it out.
Well I feel better about what I would need to do if the problem should happen again. I really appreciate your help. As far as the GP60m, I did send FVM an email asking about repair and parts about a week ago but have not heard back yet. I know the owner is a one man operation and thought he my have been busy with shows or out of the country. I might try contacting him again if I don't hear anything soon. Again, thanks for all your help. Ralph
Always, Always get in touch with the manufacturer even if the issue resolves itself. They want to know so that if it happens to be systemic they can identify and resolve the problem at the factory so it is not replicated going forward. Nobody wants to sell problematic products.
Matt - FVM - has some serious personal issues taking much of his time of late. Try a phone call. His email queue is probably huge at this point. He WILL take care of you. And we must hope things in his personal life get better.
I will second this motion! Several manufacturers have bent over backwards to help me recently. Most notably Intermountain and Atlas. I recently obtained an Atlas ATSF B23-7 Kodachrome that was missing the front and rear railings. Emailed Atlas about purchasing replacements. They replied asking for my mailing address. Before we could talk cost and shipping they were in my mailbox at no charge! Super customer service. My respect for these folks has gone way up.
First, thanks for all the replys. I will send an email or call Matt when I put a little more run time on it just to make sure it's ok and does't need to be sent back for repair. I have delt with Matt in the past and he is an outstanding guy that will go above and beyond for his customers. I have also used the Atlas customer service dept. just this past winter and yes, they were also really great to work with too. If Matt is going through a tough personal time right now I think my GP60M problem can wait a little while longer since it's no longer under warrenty anyway, and let him take care of more important things first, but thanks for the info. Ralph
