Bud, Everyone is correct--just grab a couple of Rusty's brass balls.
Mine came from RR early on, so no problems for a long time.
Bill brings up, to me anyhow, the biggest problem with sound in any
engine--just too many fine wires. I have a favorite engine of mine down
for months now---I had removed the decoder for some work. I plugged it
back in and things were doing fine on my bench. I install the tender
shell and everything died. The initial wiring was installed back in my
Dynatrol daze and with a socket fastened to a custom hole in the tender,
so I hate to mess with that but I might have to--I'm assuming (and
hoping)just a broken wire. Just need some time which is scarce right now.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
HI Bud --
I seem to recall a similar issue with mine very early in their
lives. I took the shafts out, removed the balls (the slipping
point), roughed up the shafts and put the balls back on again with a
bit of super glue. End of problem to this day...
Rusty Rustermier has (had?) some replacement balls which I would use
if this is your problem. A much nicer set of horns less likely to
chew into the slots of the sockets. I have a few pairs for the next
round of problems...
Speaking of problems, just when you think you have everything dialed
in... My RRM 4-8-2 quit cold just before I was expecting a
guest. After he left, I opened it up (quite the task trying to free
the frame from the boiler – very close tolerances plus a lot of
details to work around) and found a wire that was not attached at one
end. Although there was no obvious attach point, its position
indicated where it ought to be attached. After some very deft wire
stripping and resoldering, then getting three pairs of plugs properly
oriented and connected, it is back on the track and running fine
again. Next time it fails, I will rewire the whole engine to avoid
the electronic unit stuck in there somewhere.
Have fun!
Bill Winans
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Gents,
I believe my Overland FT's have a slipping drive shaft problem by the
sounds coming from them. Before I take the shells off and check them
out, I am curious if anyone else has had similar issues with these and
were they known for this? Before I purchased these units used, I
personally witnessed them hauling a 25 car train with no issues, but
now after sitting idle for a year or two they make a lot of noise but
very little movement.
Bud Rindfleisch
