I case anyone is interested, I'll share information about my small collection of HO locomotives. I'm just getting back into the hobby, and I recently tested my locomotives. I didn't take them apart, and just describe them here based on what I can read on the outside. Here are my test results, along with vague descriptions: - Rivarossi, made in Italy, from around 1970. Model of Sante Fe #350, looks like a GE freight locomotive. 3-axle trucks. 2 axles powered in each truck. Always seemed to be good quality. Always ran well, and still does. I'm really impressed with this unit, runs like new even after 40 years. - Unknown manufacturer, from late 60's. Model of Rio Grande Krauss-Maffei. 3-axle trucks. Rear two axles in rear truck powered. Always ran well and fast, still runs, but one of the drive wheels has come loose from its axle and wobbles, but still somehow stays on the track. Doesn't seem to be as nice as the Rivarossi unit. - Unknown manufacturer, although upon closer examination of the bottom, I see "Yugoslavia" on one side and on the other side, it has a triangle surrounding what looks like "am". From around 1970. Silver/black model of some sort of industrial switcher. Always seemed decent quality, always ran well, but now it sounds like it has a stripped gear. I think it is worm gear drive. - Revell from 1957. Model of UP switcher. Never ran well, although I didn't see it run when new. Many years ago, I took it apart and found the problem to be with an O-ring type of belt that connects motor with drive mechanism. Belt slips. - Life-Like Proto 2000 Series from 1990's. I bought them new, maybe around 1994. I have two, models of CNW GP-18 numbers 1777 and 1778. They ran well when new, but I hardly used them at all, and now they just cause the transformer to overload. I found the discussion about repair of these units. Maybe there's a loose wire causing a short circuit. Disappointed that they don't run.
Sounds like a very nice old collection! I wish I had all the train stuff from my younger days - a few items survived but not many. Amazing that they run at all, and that the Rivarossi runs so well. Would like to see some pictures if you have any to post.
Nice collection you have there. :thumbs_up: I think your little industrial switcher is an AHM Plymouth MDT. I had one of those back in the 70's, and it was noisy too. Models from that time, if they were good quality, can still run like a charm after 40 years. My first loco, a Model Power sharknose I got in a train set as a Christmas present back in 1973, still runs smooth as silk. For your Proto units, if both are exhibiting the same problem, I doubt it's a short. They would have to have exactly the same problem. Open them up and try turning the motor by hand (via a flywheel or something). If it turns freely, then it's likely a wiring problem. If it's hard to turn, then you might have gummed up or seized (corrosion probably) bearings. It would then be wise to clean and lube the units and let them run for a while to get them limbered up again.
I can give you some insight into what you have there. The GE locomotive is likely a U25C. They had a round 3 pole motor in the cab with a driveshaft going to a gearbox in the center of the locomotive, which turned a pair of driveshafts that went one to each truck. The Kraus Maffei diesel for some reason seems to generate a lot of interest because it's an unusual model. I remember them being Rivarossi built. I think the Revell model used something similar to the Athearn Hi-F drive, with a series of rubber bands turning the axles. If it is, you can still scare up a set of drive bands from many hobby shops. The little industrial switcher is another AHM imported Yugo. They ran. Usually. And every one I've ever seen has sounded like an epileptic cappuccino machine. I have seen the Life Like GP18's short out. The trucks were copies of Athearn's Blomberg trucks, and the metal axle ends were slightly larger than the Athearn version, with the holes in the gears being the same size. Not surprisingly, the plastic gears would crack, causing a "clunkclunkclunk" while running. Also, when the gears would crack, it could allow the metal axle ends to touch each other pretty easily, since they would be able to move around. It's very possible your gears have cracked, and an axle on each locomotive is shorting.
LMAO!!! Bingo! My AHM RS-2 sounds exactly like that. The racket rivals a Russian Bear bomber. Or a clothes dryer with a few dozen ball bearings in it.
Heheheh...same here. I found an AHM RS-2 at my LHS last December on thebargain table - never been out of the box! Did they really run like that when we were kids?
Thanks to all of you for the interesting and helpful replies! Upon further examination, I discovered the Krauss-Maffei is in fact a Rivarossi, made in Italy, just as bnsf971 correctly remembers. I just have to get that wheel fastened to the axle and it will be in great shape. Yes, the GE model has those drive shafts! Exactly, bnsf971! I took apart the AHM Plymouth industrial switcher, and found a worn out plastic gear surrounding the rear axle. This gear meshes with the vertical worm gear below the motor. Probably not easy to get a replacement gear. I took apart one of the Life-Like GP18's, and after moving the flywheels, I was able to get it to run. So it appears Mike was correct, and the moving parts needed to be limbered up some. But the strange thing is, when I was testing these locomotives the other day, one of the GP18's worked ok for a while, then started causing the overload condition. But the GP18 that now moves keeps derailing -- seems something wrong with the wheels, maybe too much play, hard for me to tell so far what is going on under there. I'm not happy with these Proto 2000 Series locomotives, but it seems other owners have found them to be good. I'll try to attach a picture of these items. Thanks again for the comments.
I don't remember my AHM being so bad -- I remember it sounding like an electric drill, although now, with the slipping gear, it sounds a lot worse.
Yeah I know what you mean...my first ho loco was an AHM C-liner, and I don't recall it being that noisy. Perhaps the years in the box were not that kind to the RS-2. TCATDI - thanks for the pic. I like that Kraus-Maffei a lot. An interesting loco.
Basically, once upon a time we didn't need sound decoders - becasue everything made the most realisitc sounds right out of the box!!! ;D
