Lionel #18313 GG1 w/TMCC, one motor sluggish/binding

aclsal posted:

Just pulled this one out of the box (it was MIB) and powered it up. It seemed to run pretty well for about 3-4 minutes then began slowing down and ground to a halt. One motor/set of wheels was spinning, the other was not. I tried it a few times in both directions, same results. Apparently one motor is binding up. I removed the cab, lubricated the correct points (and didn't see any hardened grease), and tried again with the same result. Double-checked all the connections, all wiring appeared good to go and the binding motor is getting power (you can hear/see it "struggling" but not being able to turn/get going) so it doesn't appear to be electrically related. As the loco was NIB, the brushes are fine, and I don't see anything physically impeding the gears etc. but I do note that the set of wheels on the affected motor truck are harder to turn than the OK truck. When in operation it seems the good motor truck is dragging the other along...for awhile...until coming to a halt (usually on a curve) while the wheels on the good motor truck just spin. Any suggestions?

We had same issue at LHS with units purchased from a estate collection ..grease in the trucks had crystallized.

I bought one of these when they were first offered, I didn't have any problems.  However, my LHS said that there were some problems with some of them and that was the magnet for the magnetraction was too close to a wheel.  This sounds like your problem as when the engine was ran long enough and with the rubbing of the magnet, it expanded only to cause more of a problem. The solution was to remove the magnet and re position it.

Steve

I'd first start with the full maintenance of the trucks, clean out all the old grease and properly lube them.  That's the top suspect.

I am having the same problems with my TMCC Century Club GG1. I bought this unit sealed, and nothing but problems so far. The power truck with the sensor is making a high pitched whizzing noise, and the unit barely responds to TMCC with the Pantograph on it as the antenna. Even in conventional mode, mine barely moves, and then operates sporadically. Even even after a full rebuild with new Red N Tacky Grease and oil, the engine barely responds. I think the LCRU Command board is bad....Uggghhh.. love the Classic GG1 THough!!!!

When I worked at Madison in Detroit, we had a bunch of these engines and a lot had your problem, Upon further inspection we found that a lot of the magnets had moved and where rubbing the inside of the wheel, sort of acting like a brake.  One way to test the motor when it is out of the truck is connect a ground wire from track and power up, motor should run very good...

Marty

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Turns out it was indeed a misaligned magnet rubbing the inside of a wheel of one of the power trucks. In addition to the replies here, I ran across an old post by Kooljock1 in another forum describing the magnet issue as mentioned above by Steve and Marty. I removed and re-positioned (centered) the offending magnet and secured it with a couple of drops of epoxy. Problem solved and the loco runs like a champ!

Steve is correct with the magnets. When mine did this I pulled the motors and the grease on one motor truck was blackened. I relocated and centered the magnet and all was fine. Runs like a champ even at slow speed.

Rod Miller