My Challenger has only approx. 5 hours run time on it, & it has developed a definite "whine". I have never worked on a steam engine & I really have no idea whether it is something serious or if it simply needs lubrication. I know many of you work on these as a matter of course so I wonder if one of you might direct me on a plan of action. I have taken several diesels apart but I have no idea how to take the shell off of a steamer. I kind of hate to just start prying & pulling on one this expensive without knowing what I am doing. I don't really know what to look for, what to lubricate, or what to lubricate with. I would certainly appreciate any help anyone could give me. Thank you in advance.
Are you sure the whine is not part of the sound program? If it's the newer run it'll have a Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder so hitting F8 ought to turn off the sound. See if that works.
I'm pretty sure it is not the sound as it was just fine until approx. the last hour of run time. I turned the dynamo sound off when I first purchased it because it was so annoying.
If I may suggest. Before you go crazy trying to fix the problem yourself...send it back. See if they can fix it for you.
I second that. My challenger was acting up and the tender shell actually melted from the decoder overheating. I sent it back to athearn with a clear explanation of the problem and a return address. They fixed it immediately and I had it back within a week. Make sure they know how new it is so that it will be considered warranty work.
I think the advice to "send it back" seams to be the concensus. Unfortunately, even though I only have 5 hours or so on it, I have had it for over a year. So no warranty. However, it probably will be worth whatever they charge to have them fix it for me. Thanks to all for your advice.
If you have NOT contacted Athearn yet, and if you have, then you know what to expect: According to Athearn, when I asked about getting my Challenger rebuilt: They only have a P/T repair person. Warranty work is priority. Other repair work is done when there is no warranty work to be done. It will cost you $40/hour for repair work done. In my situation, they ask that I send a list of the parts I need, to make sure the necessary items are in stock s that my unit can be repaired. They also ask I send some photos of the unit, for to try and help with the evaluation of the work that needs to be done. As I mentioned, I'd hate to think I spent almost $400 on a shelf model, instead of a nicely done operating model. The above is what I was told, based on MY situation only. Results will vary, depending on the type/amount of work that needs to be done.
The shell/boiler is not hard to remove. The screw in the front stack and one hidden in front of the cab is all it takes. You can get to the motor bearing with a needle oiler from there.
Keith, you are absolutely correct I called Athearn today & was told pretty much the same as you. The tech support guy said I could expect it to take 2 to 6 months to get it back. He also insisted that Athearn did not make the one I have. He said that if I have the UP 3985 with a Soundtraxx decoder, that it is one that someone has switched out the MRC decoder. He said that the only UP 3985 Athearn made was during the 2007 run which had the MRC decoders in them. This, of course, is totally not true, as I preordered mine from a very reputable dealer (which you all would know if I mentioned the name) in 2010. He even said the Athearn stock number I gave him is not in his system. Totally unbelievable!! Thanks Skipgear for the diagram. I guess I will have to try to fix it myself. I hope I have better luck with the Big Boy I just purchased! Can anyone say "poor customer support"?
#3985 was never offered with a Soundtraxx decoder. The only Challengers to come with a Tsunami decoder were announced in 2009: #3983, #3958, #3975, #3964, D&RGW 3804, and Undec. The part numbers range from 11808-11813. What is the part number on your Challenger?
Hmm. I was just checking against the part numbers in my manual and it seems may have re-used part numbers if the loco was released with that road before, maybe that was what happened and the new release has erased history of the previous release. My manual shows that as the road number for the Fan Trip #3985 from the first release. I wonder if I have any of the original release announcements in my file at the shop. I just don't remember 3985 from the Tsunami batch.
I have two challengers numbers 11800 and 11801. These came with MRC sound decoder installed. As far as i know all the Athearn's with MRC decoders came with a separate controller in the box to allow use on dc. Roget does yours have a separate controller? At least if the decoder was changed out there should be some indication in box. Doug
No, mine does not have the DC controller. Also, the Athearn booklet & the Tsunami guide that came with it were both printed October of 2009.
I think what happened is they reused the part numbers because the more that I think about it, the Tsunami run was a rerun of the first batch minus maybe the CRR version. When they announced this batch, they got a completely new part number series so they deleted the old ones that were duplicated from the system to "eliminate confusion", but it seems to have created more instead. I found the 3985 at two other dealers that keep old part numbers around advertised with the Tsunami. I bet the guy you talked to at Athearn wasn't even with the company when they switched over to Tsunami decoders. He only had the part numbers in the computer to go by and if you look at Horizon, the original 3985 has been wiped from the record.
All I can say is "Chuck, where are you when we need you?" My experience with Athearn parts and service has been exemplary, but the old parts/fixit guy Chuck has retired. Long live Chuck...
Thanks Tony (& everyone else) for all your digging. I just find it a little disconcerting to pay premium prices for merchandise and find out the company can't help with a problem if I have one. "several months" seem like a bit long to quote a repair. I'm still undecided as to whether to send it in or try to fix it myself. Also hope I don't ever have a problem with my new Big Boy.
I bet the months quote is more related to the fact that the new batch of Challengers won't be here for a month or so, which also means parts support is in the same time frame. I don't think they have any parts left curently as there have been some scratch builders buying up a lot of the left over parts supply from the last batch. I have no complaints with Athearn as far as support goes except for them not listening to my diagnosis the first time. I had to send a customers FP45 3 times to get it right, but they did take care of the problem. It honestly cost them more than the loco was worth between 2 replacement decoders and the shipping, then finally swapping the whole mechanism on the 3rd try. It was a motor with an internal short that was wiping out the decoder, they didn't believe me but after sending it back a second time with the decoder smoked the exact same way, they finally replaced the whole unit, and the customer has been fine ever since.
