Lionel K4 Steam engine - Stops on a dime/grinding of gears

I don't like "grinding of gears", but when I reverse engines they do stop abruptly.

cjack posted:

I don't like "grinding of gears", but when I reverse engines they do stop abruptly.

When reversing direction it usually stops within 6" to 8".  My engine stops within less than inch.

I have this locomotive and it runs very well. Have you lubricated it? Check your manual and be sure that you grease in the locations on the bottom of the frame. Sounds like your worm gear is dry. Also, use a safe for plastic oil on the screws that hold the side rods to the driving wheels. Do this sparingly!

I always slow my locomotives to a stop before changing direction.

Hope this helps!

grp24 posted:

I have this locomotive and it runs very well. Have you lubricated it? Check your manual and be sure that you grease in the locations on the bottom of the frame. Sounds like your worm gear is dry. Also, use a safe for plastic oil on the screws that hold the side rods to the driving wheels. Do this sparingly!

I always slow my locomotives to a stop before changing direction.

Hope this helps!

Everything is oiled & greased, that was the first item I checked. Usually when you press the direction button the engine coasts to a stop.  This K4 stops within an inch, as if it didn't have a flywheel, but it does.  

When you have the shell off, how easy it it to rotate the flywheel through a complete turn of the drivers?  Do that in both directions and see if you feel any changes in resistance or any binding.

To each their own, but I never hit the direction button when a locomotive is in motion. This one might have an early version of Odyssey and can't handle an abrupt direction change.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

When you have the shell off, how easy it it to rotate the flywheel through a complete turn of the drivers?  Do that in both directions and see if you feel any changes in resistance or any binding.

John

There is no problem rotating the flywheel in either direction.  I am assuming my problem is a mechanical issue vs an electrical item.  

If you feel no resistance when you rotate the flywheel by hand, then seems like mechanical is ok.

Is it possible to run it with the shell off? Maybe you would be able to pinpoint where the noise is coming from.

Doug