Lionel Sd70mac TMCC Odyssey 1 issue

look at mechanicals first, …..loose hardware, traction tires half hanging off, etc,….look at the magnet ring for cracks or breaks, ….always look for a simple diagnosis first before leaping into more complicated arenas ……last thing you want to do is swap in another driver only find out you had a loose motor mount or similar and the problem still exists …..

Pat

The fact that it runs fine in one direction screams out gear train issues, and the most likely is like Pat says, loose screws in the motor mount.

A loose front motor mount is exactly what the problem is, cannot find an exploded parts diagram on the Internet for this loco.Looks like I need to remove the truck to get to the screws that hold the motor to the mount. this 2003 model doesn’t appear to be the twist and remove truck system.?.?

Oh boy!  The 2003 model most CERTAINLY won't have twist-off trucks!  That's the time of the Lionel Puzzle Truck!  You have to remove a bunch of screws, including the pickup and ground, and finally you'll be able to get the motor out.

I looked up the model, and based on the actual motor mount, it does indeed have the PITA trucks I mentioned.

This is so aggravating, it’s clear to see that the motor mount screws are loose but trying to get to them is baffling me. And I consider myself a fairly decent mechanical aptitude person. It’s like there’s the center screw that I can’t get to that’s holding the whole thing together. There’s a large center screw between the pick ups that I took out but the pick ups are held by screws coming from the other direction do you think I just need to pry it off?

The truck plates are mounted from the top so those aren’t accessible without getting the whole truck removed.

I had the same reaction the first time I saw one of these. You are correct, you have to remove the whole truck.

You have to take the screws out of the bottom and separate the truck,  the wheel sets will fall out, and the fun is getting the flats of all the bearings back in the right place to reassemble.  You also have to take the screws out that hold the pickup to the truck and remove that.  Once the truck is separated, you can get to the internal screws.

I have to jump off the project for a few hours but will update you when I make progress. Thanks for all the help

One screw where the slot is through the frame is what releases the whole truck as it’s connected through the truck assembly to the back pick up roller. runs perfectly now, thanks again guys.

@Astrobeachy posted:

One screw where the slot is through the frame is what releases the whole truck as it’s connected through the truck assembly to the back pick up roller. runs perfectly now, thanks again guys.

Now that you’re well versed in Lionel puzzle trucks, if it happens again, don’t be scared to put a tiny drop of blue loctite on the motor mount screws,…..I’ve had repeat offenders drive me nanners…….seems like it’s a common ailment on the trucks you need to gut a tool box to take apart…..

Pat

There are also variations on the amount of disassembly you have to do.  The Lionel Century Club Sharks have trucks that you have to take out ever screw you can find before they come apart, and I had to do three of them!