Newer Atlas SD50 Drive Train Noise--Bearing Block Slop

[busdriver]

Woodchip,

Thanks for the tip on the bolster keepers that break off.  Fortunately, they are all there.  I did buy a used loco that had that problem.  The clue was the small round bits in the jewel case with the loco.  Took me a while to figure out where those came from.  Found it pretty quick when I put it on the track for the first time.  Quite noisy!

Bryce

[busdriver]

The gears are clean if not over lubed.  I don't have a ballasted RR other than cork ballast.  When I took the trucks apart to clean out much of the excess grease, I ran them by hand on a rail.  They roll nicely.  I think the noise is coming from the universals or something in the driveline.  I read that moving the universal plastic part on the shaft to reduce play might help.  I may try that next.  However, since the loco seems to run nicely when in consist, I may just leave it alone.  I see no slack action when it has friends.  It only seems unhappy when running solo.  I don't plan to do switching with an SD50 (bad fuel economy) so I hope I'm good.  I have another one of these units coming.  I'll see how it behaves to see if it is any better, and then make improvements from there if the new one shows me that it could be better.

Bryce

[busdriver]

Only 6 more posts to go

[busdriver]

Peteski,

Thanks for the post about how to adjust the axles in the wheels.  Unfortunately at the point, I don't have a press, but may have to look into that.

Bryce

[busdriver]

I hope you folks don't mind that I'm trying to get my post count up here.  Once I can post pics, all is good......

Bryce

[busdriver]

4

[peteski]

Peteski,

Thanks for the post about how to adjust the axles in the wheels.  Unfortunately at the point, I don't have a press, but may have to look into that.

Bryce

I was lucky to pick up that mini arbor press, but if you keep reading that thread, other members came up with some creative ways to adjust the axles (including the very last post in that thread).

. . . only two more posts to go . . . 

[busdriver]

Yes, I did see the $3 option.  We have a Harbor Freight close to us.  May have to go look at what they have.  I'm also a G-Scaler, so it would have uses there, too.  I have just been using my vise on those.

Bryce

[busdriver]

Only 2 to go.....then I will share some pics of this unit.

[busdriver]

ONE!!!!

[u18b]

Hey Busdriver. 
Welcome to a great forum!

[peteski]

You can now upload photos. I recommend using the forum's gallery.  There is a sticky tutorial in the Admin/FAQ section

[busdriver]

Here is the rubber I added and the other half of the frame where there are no clips like they used to have.

[peteski]

Looks like the rubber strips adhered to the bearing blocks, not to the other frame half. Regardless, that looks like a workable solution.

[busdriver]

I actually put them on the bearing block since the slot "holds" them for reassembly.  Also, the greasiness kind of makes them stick.  I did not use any glue.  When the halves are together, there is a shelf on the other side that doesn't let them fall downward.  All in all, I'm happy with it even if it didn't knock out all of the noise.  Also, I found a small desk vise at Harbor Freight that I think will be great as a press for the Kato Axle mod.  It is fully adjustable for angle so I can tilt it to be "vertical" like a press.  I just need to get a piece of aluminum. Anxious to try that to see if it helps.

Here is the vise:

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-34-in-articulated-vacuum-vise-59116.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Flex_Engage&utm_campaign=Store_Order_Confirmation

Bryce