Athearns AC4400CW- What the heck?

AZBigDog Jan 25, 2007

  1. AZBigDog

    AZBigDog TrainBoard Member

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    Athearns AC4400CW- Help!!

    Picked up a new AC4400CW from athearns less than a month ago and suddenly it's making a weird buzzing noise when it runs- it sounds sick. :angry: This is actually my second one, since the first one was dead out of the box. Anyhow, if I let it run for a while the buzzing stops, but I don't think a brand new loco should do this, any suggestions?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 25, 2007
  2. AZBigDog

    AZBigDog TrainBoard Member

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    No one has any clues? Ok, more info. It no longer stops buzzing, and now it slows down when it does it. I'm guessing it's a faulty motor.

    Anyone know how the best way to go about getting it serviced by the manufacturer is? What is your experience with them? Do they turn them around relatively fast?
     
  3. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Sounds like a motor problem or a dry bearing in the drive train. I would try lightly oiling all the bearings and put some contact cleaner on the commutator if it appears dirty. Other than that I don't know.
    If that doesn't solve the problem I would contact the LHS or dealer where I purchased the engine or call Athearn. Hope this helps.
     
  4. Tim Loutzenhiser

    Tim Loutzenhiser TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is kind of weird - I picked up a pair of Athearn Ready to Roll GP40's about a year ago - never ran them until just recently - one of them is kind of buzzing/squeeling...
     
  5. AZBigDog

    AZBigDog TrainBoard Member

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    I think you're right about the bearing in the drivetrain. It would make the most sense. I'll try that before sending it to athearns. I bought it on line so I don't know about sending it back to the dealer. Seems to me it would be just as easy to send back to athearns. :(

    Yeah, sounds like my issue.
     
  6. Mike Sheridan

    Mike Sheridan TrainBoard Member

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    Squealing is likely a dry bearing. Lack of use (being sat on a shelf for a year or few) can certainly cause it.
     
  7. jeffrey-wimberly

    jeffrey-wimberly TrainBoard Member

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    When I take a locomotive off my display shelf for a run, it gets serviced before it touches the track.
     
  8. AZBigDog

    AZBigDog TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, no telling how long it was on the shelf before it got shipped to me. A side note. The first one I got was dead out of the box.:eek:mg: This one at least ran for a couple of weeks. :thumbs_up:
     
  9. AZBigDog

    AZBigDog TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, a thorough lubing with some light oil did the trick. Runs just as quiet-actually quieter than when I first took it out of the box. My guess is that it's been sitting on a shelf for quite a while- just needed some PM.
     

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