Just took it out of the box and wanted to test it, but unfortunately it looks like she is sick. Anything I can try here before I send it to MTH for repair.
Video of the issue inserted below:
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Make sure nothing is stuck in the gears.
scott.smith posted:Make sure nothing is stuck in the gears.
Thanks Scott, I will check them again, but since it works in reverse I didn't think that would be the issue.
Before you send it out - this can be caused by a loose motor (as mounted on the truck). I have experienced a similar thing with a Williams diesel; a couple of small screws at the motor base were loose, allowing the motor to wallow around. The torque causes the loose motor/gear to lean away from the gear with which it needs to mesh in one direction (noisy), but snugs up the mesh in the other (quiet).
If you can, check both your truck mounts (to the frame) and your motor mounts (to the truck). Probably you will have to remove the shell to check the motors.
This may not be it, but something similar did happen to me once, for sure.
Thanks D500, I will take the shell off tonight, and give it a good inspection. I appreciate the assistance. I would rather try and repair it myself instead of shipping it off for a few weeks.
I think the motor screw that keeps the motor to the plate is on the bottom of the trucks. You could see if it's tight without removing the shell.
I had one loose on a G scale GG1 and it also ran poorly (just weak though and made gear skipping noise). Tightened the screw and it was fine.
Joe is correct, the one screw in the bottom of the truck is frequently loose, that's all it takes to make it run odd, and it's usually in one direction.
Wow... that is a beautiful F3 MTH did there... as my Dad always said as we pulled up to next to an ole jalopy "sounds like the popcorns done" 
Can you post some video of the entire set when you get it running right?
gunrunnerjohn posted:Joe is correct, the one screw in the bottom of the truck is frequently loose, that's all it takes to make it run odd, and it's usually in one direction.
Thanks John, pretty sure I have tightened that one several times. Will removing the screw fully and reinserting help at all, or is pretty much the same thing?
J Daddy posted:Wow... that is a beautiful F3 MTH did there... as my Dad always said as we pulled up to next to an ole jalopy "sounds like the popcorns done"
Can you post some video of the entire set when you get it running right?
Certainly will! I do have the matching ABBA and passenger cars. Sadly the only powered unit is the one that's not working 
BNSF-Matt posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:Joe is correct, the one screw in the bottom of the truck is frequently loose, that's all it takes to make it run odd, and it's usually in one direction.
Thanks John, pretty sure I have tightened that one several times. Will removing the screw fully and reinserting help at all, or is pretty much the same thing?
several times?
Sounds like there's something right there going wrong!
Actually, I have not removed it all, I was just wondering if that's something to try. I have only tightened down both motor screws on each truck as tight as I can get them.
MATT, better remove the shell and make sure nothing is getting pinched between the motors and the truck assemblies, keeping one of the motors from fully seating, which would give you a tight screw but keep the gears from fully meshing.
For those following this thread I wanted to give an update on my Santa Fe F-3. She is back from MTH and working fine now. They had to replace a diode as the engine was drawing more Amps than it should have been which was causing the problem.
Also thank you to everyone for your help and suggestions!
Glad you're back on track.
Looking forward to more photos/video of that beautiful set. MTH certainly has done an excellent job of the stainless finish on their diesels - much better than 'one of the other brands'....
c.sam posted:Glad you're back on track.
Looking forward to more photos/video of that beautiful set. MTH certainly has done an excellent job of the stainless finish on their diesels - much better than 'one of the other brands'....
Thank you Sam, I do have the ABBA so pictures and a video are coming soon. I agree, MTH does the stainless finish so nice, and I'm probably going to pick up that new Gold Alco PA they just announced which also has the finish, I don't think the gold paint on it is stainless as it looks more like a flat finish in the pictures.
Well I decided to test the engine out and although my LHS did put it on the track and it worked fine for a few feet. I put it on my layout and now I have this loud clicking noise coming from the engine (I did remove the shell to make sure nothing was rubbing). it wouldn't bother me if it wasn't louder than the actual engine sounds coming from the speaker. So before I send this back a second time I attached a short video of the noise and the other thing I noticed in the bottom photo is that there is now a particle board piece under the front motor, but the rear motor doesn't have this. Not really sure why that's there and it wasn't there when I sent the engine in the first time.
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That's a "Bush League" repair if I ever saw one! 
That sucker would be on it's way back for sure! I've never seen anything that ugly!
Thanks for the reply GUNRUNNERJOHN, I will drop it off this week, and have my LHS ship it back again.
I wonder who's idea of a "repair" that was?
That did look pretty funny running by with a bird nest stuck between the motors.
BNSF-Matt posted:
That sounds like a roller click to me. Could be a piece of debris on or inside the roller pin.
Fairly common , not an issue outside of being annoying. In my experience a drop of conductive oil on the roller pin and some run time and it usually goes away.
You'll need to run it stationary and see if it still clicks. If not , it's a roller.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I wonder who's idea of a "repair" that was?
Mth's repair dept?
RickO posted:BNSF-Matt posted:That sounds like a roller click to me. Could be a piece of debris on or inside the roller pin.
Fairly common , not an issue outside of being annoying. In my experience a drop of conductive oil on the roller pin and some run time and it usually goes away.
You'll need to run it stationary and see if it still clicks. If not , it's a roller.
Hey Rick, the original issue was sent to MTH for repairs.
On the clicking issue it doesn't do it at idle or low speeds and only above 8 mph so you might be right on the roller. I will give them a deeper inspection, oil them up, and see if the issue goes away after some run time.
Thanks for the assistance!
Both of my A units had an audible clicking sound out of the box. After searching here, I figured it was the rollers and didn't pay it much mind. I oiled per the instructions prior to running, and it didn't get any worse. I'll have to oil them and run them again after I get the inner loop of my layout back together. In the meantime, I'll be paying attention to Matt's progress here.
With a hack job like I see, I'd send them back. No way I'd live with that!
gunrunnerjohn posted:With a hack job like I see, I'd send them back. No way I'd live with that!
I would send the pics to Mike. That tech passed a hiring process
In regards to the clicking noise it looks like it was indeed the rollers (Thanks Rick). I removed them both (as to not get anything on the engine). Cleaned them up, sprayed with WD40, and then added the conductive oil. Ran it around the track for a good 10 minutes to break it in and so far so good.
As for the strange modification I'm still contemplating on my direction. I don't want to send anything back if it's working, because there is a chance it could back with something else not working. I will probably take it to my LHS and see how they want to proceed.
We talking carboard shim? Or wiring? It is a PS-3 so there is plenty of bird nesting with those engines. That is no way near the worst mess seen, IMHO. G
I'm talking about this George, absolutely no excuse for this kind of "fix"!
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A bunch of engines left MTH that had clicking in the front motor/truck. The motor did need to be shimmed up or have the worm gear pressed on a bit further.
I have to say that is an 'interesting' repair. lol
I would imagine MTH shimmed them with washers.
