MTH SW1 GEAR NOISE

Just a thought. Even though new, the truck could be running dry (it has happened). I would check the lubrication.

I would certainly lubricate it to be safe and see if that helps at all. 

I have an SW1, although I purchased mine as a new/used in 2011 (new but used on the LHS store layout as a demo model so it had run time) and mine has always been a "growler" in reverse and hasn't had an mechanical problems overall. 

You may need to break it in.  But I would check the motor gear and lube if not done.  Make sure no foreign material internal.  Motor mount screws tight.  Watch with shell off.  Make sure pinion gears on side are not loose.  Press the pin in some if they are.

Unfortunately when I have seen gear issues, it has been when there was too much lateral axle movement.  The bread clip has been around for a while, even PW guys have done it, but if that solves your issue, go more permanent with a C shim made out of a spring washer.  G

Thanks guys.  The external gears WERE dry when I got it.  I lubed them before I ran it.  At first I thought it might just need some run time, but I don’t think this noise is going away with run time and I don’t want to run it too much before I get it checked out.  Since it’s new, I’m not going to take it apart to look at the motor gear…at least not before my LHS has a look.  Don’t want to void the warranty.

I got the SW1 back from my LHS yesterday.

He checked the gearbox.  It had grease.  He thought that the axles and gear shafts may have been dry so he oiled them thoroughly and ran it upside down for a while to work the oil in.  That didn’t help.

He ended up replacing the trucks so the cause of the noise will remain a mystery.

Never heard about the bread wrapper closure trick. can you please explain?

hello guys and gals......

I would remove the factory grease and put in fresh Red & Tacky #2 run it while at least hour ( half hour backwards and half hour forwards) at low to med speed with no cars in tow. If that does not help then send it back for repair or exchange.

Tiffany

Tiffany - That's what I did.

It's from an old post.  I just did a search for it, but it didn't come up.  Sometimes, excess axle play can result in gear noise.  The cure for excess axle play was to get the closure (the plastic type, not a twist tie) from an old bread wrapper, trim it to a circle shape and slip it over the axle to reduce play.

Old trick even used on PW trains.  Basically a poor mans shim.   G

L74,

Does the engine still stutter?  Remove the shell and mark the top of the flywheels and see if they start at the same time and spin at the same rate.

Dave

Dave,

The engine is fine now.  No gear noise.  No stutter.  My LHS replaced the trucks.

I don’t know exactly what was causing the problem.  Probably something wrong with the gear train on one or both of the original trucks, but there was nothing visibly wrong with the gears when I inspected them last month.

Bob

I had a diesel with horrible gear noise, fixed it by pushing the idler gear shaft back in tighter.

Clem k 

Like clem k says...this is from a premier gp35...got rid of a lot of noise and improved my scale 1mph.