Athearn tune up. Also includes discussion of .

Athearn tune up. This site will contain the content of the former Athearn Tune-up Guide, along with a lot of new stuff. 57 amperes. We feature beginner and advanced help on all model railroading scales, including layout track plans, model railroad product reviews, model train news, and model railroad forums. 00 #trains #tsgmultimediapodcast #tsgmultimedia 'How to Tune Up HO Scale Athearn Trucks 5-1-15 PodcastIn this video podcast episode, We show you how to disasse The plan for these testing of tune up steps are as follows: (Using the Simplified engine only test sequence. Mashima 1824 can motor with brass fly wheels #2 In most cases, there … I have a couple of older Atlas, the yellow and white box, non China units. This week I'm working on a rather handsome FP45 which likes to fall off the track. Follow along to see if the techniques provide better Aug 18, 2004 · Hey friends! Some of you might have remembered that I posted the thread just last year asking if anyone made HO diesel locomotive cab interior kits. This prevented the axles from spinning in the gears once installed and seem to be working fine for the time being. org Athearn Tune-up… Feb 20, 2009 · I won’t deny that a re-motor could be the ultimate upgrade, but a tune-up is a lot less expensive and can make a world of difference. –Randy Nov 2, 2016 · Lots of things you can do if you can do the basic Athearn tune up on an engine, adding sound is about 4 more wires. Locked rotor current is more critical – probability of jamming is higher. This is the quick tuneup portion of the Guide. Current draw went down to about . My GP 60 runs as smooth and nearly as quiet as my Stewart Alco C628, and that thing is SILENT. It eliminates electrical problems caused by poor contact between the trucks and the frame bolsters, between the motor's bottom clip and the frame, and between the stock strip steel contact strip and the top of the trucks and motor. It's a kind of a whirling, humming noise. Now, how high maintenance that really is I dont know. *_John Shaw\JSC640. Sanding the communicator seemed to help the most. I thought about getting involved with tweaking CVs, motor settings, etc. succesful athearn tune up!! h44 Dec 7, 2012 Replies 3 Views 2K Dec 9, 2012 gabby G I picked up an old Walthers special run set of these Athearn cars cheap and built one to see how it would go. Hargrave) Miscellaneous links Dec 13, 2013 · After the tune-up in the article, if your still not happy with the way it runs, than I would move on, and look for an up-grade like Atlas, Proto 2000, or Spectrum, all which can be found at decent prices. Helix Humper Can motor #1 Jul 7, 2010 · He used to come by the club I belonged to at the time - most memebers with AThearn units on the layout used his repower kits. As far as Athearn switchers Sep 15, 2025 · Athearn Locomotive Tune-up Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. All the parts and tools I used today:Cleaning Pens: https://amzn. I sat the unit on the main and gave it thottle. Also includes discussion of traditional "toy train" and "collector" topics such as Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, and others. My LHS sells them for $20. Our focus will be from the wheels up on model locomotives, including motors, frames, drive trains, DCC decoders, Analog electronics and anything else you can fit under the hood of a model locomotive Index of /Publications/Articles/Athearn_Tune_Up_FilesIndex of /Publications/Articles/Athearn_Tune_Up_Files Dec 27, 2012 · I hauled out some old flea market purchases and among them found an old Athearn diesel with the original motor and dual flywheels. Also includes discussion of Dec 15, 2018 · Search the web under Athearn Tune up and you will find some options, from cleaning wheels, track, to motor and electrical tune up to complete motor replacement, your choice as to how much time and money you want to invest in them. Apr 14, 2008 · In one of the steps of this very thorough Athearn tune-up, the authors recommend using “pearl drops” whitening toothpaste to burnish the truck gears. While tuning stock Athearn drives will provide well operating locomotives, to keep them running reliably you need to keep the motor and wheel sets clean, and with stock Athearn drives, you'll be doing this every 2-6 months depending on how often you operate. Enjoy. I recently took them out of storage and ran them on my grandsons little layout. The answer I got basically was that no one did. Is there an acceptable substitute if I give up looking for it? I’ve considered using automotive rubbing compound, but I’m afraid that it might be difficult to remove from the gears after running them in hi i'm in the process of doing a tune up following the http://hackitup. Jim That seems counter-intuitive to me. The cracked gears may be your only problem. Ok, so I have been reading and know the Athearn Blue box Loco's have a reputation for being noisy. Now thanks to MStein mentioning the Keystone kit on the Athearn F7 detailing thread, I did a search for Keystone and hit on Keystone Locomotive Works at www May 25, 2003 · This is larry and all my units are Athearn they are the best locomotive for the money you pay for them all of mine not only run fairly quietly but pull like a mule with spiked shoes if you tune them up with the tuning guide book you cannot go wrong they run almost as well as an atlas or kato or even a proto power for alot less money as well Sep 19, 2023 · Tune Up Tuesday - Athearn Southern Pacific FM Trainmaster Scott Rails 6. tmpRAILROADS6 Million - (32 of 32 Re-explanerized the use of dielectric grease the correct way. net/athearn. A friend taught me how to do fine soldering w/a cheap iron & I was on my way. GSB made them back in the 80s. Aug 13, 2020 · A long time ago I detailed many Athearn BB locomotives. Rob, your input is greatly appreciated. hard to explain. mcor-nmra. I would also like to see a good top to bottom tune-up for the old Athearn mechanism. Feb 7, 2014 · Athearn Locomotive tune up tricks showing my technique for polishing wheels and also how to add extra electrical contacts to the trucks. net check out their clinic section. The couplers are on swinging bars with tabs for the truck crossbar to Dec 2, 2008 · This Athearn tune up is pretty good If you want to do some tweaking to the BB locomotives. (It's 4:20AM so my memory may be a bit fuzzy. Good Morning Everyone: What a difference 24 hours makes! Last night I "successfully" installed my first harness and chip into an Atheran BB. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks again in advance. After the tune up, the same locomotive drew 3/4 of an amp. 00 Newer posts 1 … 150 151 152 153 154 … 162 Older posts You pay the shipping and send to me and I tune up the motor, drive, upgrade wiring, change to screw type motor mounts and add Kadee couplers on any Athearn Blue Box HO engine. Anyone have input on the best tuneup? I figure doing the same cleaning and lube job like a Athearn. . It comes down to a time vs money issue. 95… go to www. With a tune up it will run great! #modelrailroading #modeltrains #trains Hello Model Railroaders! This video is a DIY tutorial on how to tune up an old locomotive and get it ready for service! I will be taking an Athearn "Yellow I had a similar problem after I put NWSL wheels on a blue box GP38-2 with a frame I had lowered to its prototypical height. Thanks! But … Today, I went to my LHS and picked up a DCC decoder for the unit (Digitrax DH163). I've hard wired every single engine I have including the other brands. One article says every few weeks, given it depends on how much use that unit gets. Athearn Blue box HO Scale Baltimore & Ohio B&O Passenger coach in box. I then did the top clip replacement without reinstalling the cab light. would kadee dry grease have the same affect? thanks mark Mar 26, 2024 · In this video I will strip down my Athearn Hustler, clean the motor and wheels, and get her back on the tracks. I bench tested it and all of the functions worked fine. Jan 21, 2025 · Athearn Locomotive Tune-up Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. I hear they run well but lack the detail as This engine has been tested extensively during the Athearn tune up series Described in another post. The motors tested here are as follows: 1. I also install LED's for all the lighting & just lately have been getting into roof strobes & flashers. 31K subscribers Subscribed Jun 24, 2025 · Athearn Blue box HO Scale Baltimore & Ohio B&O Baggage car in box. The couplers are on swinging bars with tabs for the truck crossbar to Why don't you tune up your Athearn DD40? It responds well to the standard tune up proceedures for Athearn BB diesels. There’s also a great article on regearing an Athearn Locomotive. While tuning stock Athearn drives will provide well operating locomotives, to keep them running reliably you need to keep the motor and wheelsets clean, and with stock Athearn drives, you'll be doing this every 2-6 months depending on how often you operate. Ken Rickman Jun 24, 2025 · Heavyweight Passenger Car/Baggage Car. All three of these engines were previously well used to varying degrees. I know it's been done, but it's a useful thing. Jan 8, 2009 · The only way I’ve found to fix my RTR athearn engine noise is to replace the engine with a NWSL for about $40 bucks. You'll need an NMRA gauge to adjust the wheel spacing when reassembling. (Old Athearn tune up trick). 00 Newer posts 1 2 3 4 5 … 12 Aug 13, 2013 · I've acquired a bad habit of buying old 'new in box' Athearn locomotives. Athearn blue box rectangular gold stock with brass fly wheels #1 2. Preventative maintenance will see to it that this locomotive will be reliable for decades to come without Oct 30, 2009 · If the motor is not repalced, follow one of the many Athearn tune-up sites to make it run as best it can. If you would like to Mar 26, 2023 · As my layout is built for operation with multiple operators of differing skill levels handling my trains, Athearn Blue Box locos are my “go to” choice, especially when I can pick them up used so cheaply at train shows and on-line. I’ve been looking around for that brand of toothpaste because I’m in need of tuning up a couple of engines. I start This engine has been tested extensively during the Athearn tune up series Described in another post. One engine I have just plain seems cursed, SP SD-50. html instructions, everythinghas been going good until it came This pair of Athearn blue box covered hoppers need a tune-up to bring them up to club standards for the Arlington Heights Society of Model Engineers. (running a DH 163 decoder) I pulled the Athearn Locomotive Tune-up Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. Jan 19, 2024 · I researched and found out the steps how modelers "super-tuned" their Blue Box Athearn Locomotives to get better performance back in the day. This is Jim Fuhrman's "Five-Wire System" for reliable wiring for Athearn and similar locomotive drive trains. They are still somewhat high maintenance. What washers should I use on the wheelsets if I need to adjust them to NMRA May 27, 2012 · Did you go through the Athearn tune up guide I posted earlier? Sometimes Athearn BB can be hit and miss. I didn't think that much was gained with them. 80 but I was also wondering if anyone sells larger quantities for a reasonable price. Feb 26, 2017 · I picked up an old Walthers special run set of these Athearn cars cheap and built one to see how it would go. I’ve also noticed that since the center Jan 15, 2022 · Posted by Larry 09/17/201404/04/2021 Upgrade services Leave a comment on Item 10 – HO Athearn Blue Box Engine Tune Up – (1) Engine —$23. They definitely run quieter than the gold-sided original motors, and draw less current. I've installed decoders and replaced headlights in previous locks, but now I'm getting a little more ambitious. It appears to be an electrical issue. Hope you find it info How to update to Kadee couplers How to update Roundhouse rolling stock to Kadee How to update Athearn to Kadee's How to install metal axels How to make your cars run better How to adjust Kadee I just recently pulled it out of storage, did the full "Athearn tune-up," repainted it in a fantasy Monon black-and-gold scheme (the Monon had been gone for over a decade before the engine entered production), added grab irons fabricated from broken guitar strings and replaced the lights with LED's. I am using older BB box motors, installing the correct Hex head flywheels. It’s not nearly as friendly to get into as a BB engine, and was a classic example of trying to fix something that wasn’t necessarily broken. I am running DCC. –Randy If I determine the engine to be beyond repair, then you pay nothing, the return shipping … Continue reading “Item 10 – HO Athearn Blue Box Engine Tune Up – (1) Engine —$23. . While running the Pearl Drop Tooth paste threw the trucks I broke a drive shaft. He had an Athearn switcher which I rebuilt with Earnest gears. Dec 1, 2006 · Greetings, I have some Athearn engines that need a tune up. Heavyweight Passenger Car/Baggage Car. Also includes discussion of Nov 2, 2009 · Two locos with the same issue… I recently installed a Digitrax DH142 on a newer BB GP38-2. You can lift each wheel set out and replace the broken gears. railfan. Jan 21, 2008 · hello just a small question for all u railroad gurus i was just reading the athearn tune up at the nmra page, and i’ve notyiced something all my athearns have the cast iron wheels, and due to the fact that i’m going to tune up my gp7s,gp9s, f7s and sw’7s all are bb’s which wheel sets should i use size wise since there are conduction issues for the electricity (Mainly rust spots) so I Jan 5, 2015 · Looking for ideas on tuning up older athearn locomotives . Helix Humper Can motor #1 I tune up a used Athearn Blue Box model, and at the end of the video show some future projects. I bought them to replace cracked axle gears on my older Atlas locomotive. Jan 18, 2005 · Google on Athearn Tune and it should turn up a couple. Digging thru boxes I found my workbench tools and gave them a standard tune up, and they ran better Once a staple of the hobby, Athearn's HO scale blue box kits were affordable, reliable, easy to build and maintain, and had just enough detail to look at home on most layouts. Couplers intact. They provide better contact and have a better appearance than the old wheels – but remember to use an NMRA gauge so they’re spaced correctly when you’re finished. I also recommend ebay LEDs at the same time if not already equipped. If the configuration is the Athearn clone, the axle gears will be replaced. Cmarchand’s “Athearn tune-up” method helps eliminate most of that growl. Today the motor makes a metal to metal sound. Sep 15, 2025 · He had an Athearn switcher which I rebuilt with Earnest gears. They range in age from 5 to 15 years. I might add that was a few years ago, and did not have a Multimeter. 00 Newer posts 1 … 150 151 152 153 154 … 162 Older posts May 16, 2007 · Does anyone know where I can find Pearldrops tooth polish? I’ve checked most of the drug stores, Target, and Walmart, but can’t find it. I picked one up on ebay and did the Tune-up on it. Hope you find it info Mar 3, 2009 · I read through the "Athearn Tune Up" article that another member gave me the link to. She runs ok once she gets moving (and ran fine prior to conversion to DCC), but before she gets underway she buzzes until reaching speed step 7, and then takes off. June Meeting, Favorite Model Display, Layout Tours, Fegruary Meeting Report, Hands-on Athearn Tune-up & DIY Switches Clinics, From the Super, Mountains of Fun in '91, A Great Chance to Help, PSR BOD Meeting Minutes, Consignment Table at Division Meets, Calendar of Events, Upcoming Division Meets, Want Ads, The Mail Species, Mid Year BOD Meeting Jan 17, 2006 · Also, if this is an older Athearn engine, you may want to replace the wheels with some from NorthWest Short Line. Cleaning the gears, replacing wires, the works. I have a couple of older Atlas, the yellow and white box, non China units. Is he Athearn wheels are steel and pick up dirt and grease much quicker than Nickel-Silver wheels. Either way works. These units go to www. ) 1- run an “As Received” test. HO train #645. Not cheap, but I had to. Also includes discussion of Jan 19, 2025 · Athearn Locomotive Tune-up Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. Also includes discussion of Steam outline locomotives, especially older brass may need extensive electrical and mechanical tune up to make a conversion worthwhile. Any engine, if it is old enough can suffer from dired out grease in the gears. Compared to his newer DCC locomotives they ran poorly. There are still a LOT of old Athearns out there. Those use Mashima can motors. NET. This is especially true if the problem is in a different part of the driveline rather than in the motor itself. Tighten the other truck so it can rotate freely and rock from side to side. June Meeting, Favorite Model Display, Layout Tours, Fegruary Meeting Report, Hands-on Athearn Tune-up & DIY Switches Clinics, From the Super, Mountains of Fun in '91, A Great Chance to Help, PSR BOD Meeting Minutes, Consignment Table at Division Meets, Calendar of Events, Upcoming Division Meets, Want Ads, The Mail Species, Mid Year BOD Meeting More Athearns. I was all excited to see the unit run for the first time! I got home, installed the decoder, and got it all programed. I think that the ratio is too low. Some have the tooth paste, but not the polish. Posted by Larry 09/17/201404/04/2021 Upgrade services Leave a comment on Item 10 – HO Athearn Blue Box Engine Tune Up – (1) Engine —$23. Yugoslavia or Austria maybe???? They operate but seem sluggish. Also includes discussion of Athearn Locomotive tune up tricks showing my technique for polishing wheels and also how to add extra electrical contacts to the trucks. I took it apart. HO train #1714. It runs great, no problems at all, except for the noise. Installed a replacement motor, motor was noisy but amp readings where good Member Nov 4, 2011 #1 i'm going to be able to start up working on the athearn tune up saturday, i'm at the part where it says to put pearl drops on the gears and run for about 20 mins to "break in" the engine. There are still many How and where to put Oxgard on an Athearn Blue Box truck when you are reassembling after cleaning and lubricating. Everything is in box. Clean and lubricate the motor and trucks and I bet it's like brand new. June Meeting, Favorite Model Display, Layout Tours, Fegruary Meeting Report, Hands-on Athearn Tune-up & DIY Switches Clinics, From the Super, Mountains of Fun in '91, A Great Chance to Help, PSR BOD Meeting Minutes, Consignment Table at Division Meets, Calendar of Events, Upcoming Division Meets, Want Ads, The Mail Species, Mid Year BOD Meeting Oct 3, 2010 · I got online to the NMRA web site & found the Athearn Tune-up pages. The couplers are on swinging bars with tabs for the truck crossbar to Athearn Locomotive Tune-up Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. At this point, you can change out the axles for Northwest Short Line’s replacement wheels. but I think I should double check performance on DC before digging into LokProgrammer. Check out my latest HOW TO video where I walk through all the steps of UPGRADING the electronics using a Decoder Buddy, ESU LokSound V5 decoder and Scale Sound System Speakers!!! Thanks for Watching - Andy Mar 2, 2004 · I am planning to tune up the drive mechanisms on my Athearn GP9s and SW1500s and need to know what size ( OD and ID ) shim washers to use on the axles and for the motor. Helix Humper Can motor #1 This engine has been tested extensively during the Athearn tune up series Described in another post. tmpRAILROADS6 Million - (32 of 32 Model Railroader is the world's largest magazine on model trains and model railroad layouts. Aug 22, 2023 · Full tear down of a New Old Stock Athearn Blue Box PA-1 for some cleaning and lubrication, plus, I fine tune my LED Conversion technique. I have a few of the SD70’s and absolutely love them. Jan 29, 2010 · Reading a few Athearn tune up pages and there are some recommendations to just install a can motor like Segami or Mashima because even after a well tuned stock unit. They have an Athearn tune-up booklet posted #005 ,you can print it right of the web site. After adding the 42" wheels, they started making contact with the frame. Feb 11, 2010 · Just for "kicks," one time I hooked up a multimeter between the power pack and the track and checked amp draw before and after. Three of the four sets had cracked axle gears (like Proto2000 axles gears) right out of the package. It will make the difference between just running trains and actually having reliable, prototypical operation. When adjusting Athearn rolling stock you will have to shorten the protrusion that the truck slides over to allow you to tighter the screw properly. Now when I bench test it, it will only move Tips for rolling stock maintenance Athearn tune up (by R. The most common method is to tighten one mounting screw so that wheel set can rotate back and forth only. Note: Operation of some Proto 2000/1000, Bachmann Plus and Spectrum, as well as some Kato locomotives can be improved by adding wires to bypass truck-to-frame wipers. Helix Humper Can motor #1 Apr 20, 2020 · Is it clean, did the rail joiners fit tight? Are the loco wheels clean? Certain brands are prone to cracked gears. Bernie said that he performed the Athearn Tune Up (there's a tune-up guide on the internet) so his engines should be good to go. With a tune up it will run great! You pay the shipping and send to me and I tune up the motor, drive, upgrade wiring, change to screw type motor mounts and add Kadee couplers on any Athearn Blue Box HO engine. Do brushes wear out? Would it be worth buying replacements? I trimmed back the springs per tune up Item 10 – HO Athearn Blue Box Engine Tune Up – (1) Engine —$23. Whether you're a seasoned model railroader or just starting out, a proper tune up can enhance your locomotive's performance dramatically. You have to buy a Genesis engine to get one that doesn’t growl or make noise, but for that price I’d rather spend my money on an Atlas. I did notice though that one of the gears was a bit noisy so this morning i disassembled and lubricated and made sure everything was alligned propertly. These are all fixed by using the "Five-Wire System" to assure positive contact from truck sideframes to both sides of motor. You CAN tweak the Athearn motors and get them to run quiet well, see the various AThearn tune-up web sites. Athearn Tune up! I would not trash the old Athearn motor! There is a wealth of information on the internet to make those units operate as good as more expensive units. Oct 7, 2011 · Re-motoring a few of my Athearn RTR engines. (time for bed!) Forgive me if I remembered wrong!) Oct 26, 2014 · During the initial engine testing phase the results of various tune up features were examined on three Athearn blue box engines. Otherwise you must be in it for the long haul! Follow this link to the Total Overhaul page. These units I have a couple of older Atlas, the yellow and white box, non China units. Apr 15, 2004 · I even have an Athearn tune-up book that discusses this and how to fix it. 5 amps out of the box. I am following the Athearn tune up article which appeared on line several years ago (my MS Word copy) and as I gotntomthe point where I “gently” remove the motor and flywheel assembly itself from the chassis, I found that the plastic mounts- there are two- were Search the Internet for "Athearn tune up". Although it still jumps and jerks at slow start up speeds. The improvement was noticable, but barely. These units In one of the steps of this very thorough Athearn tune-up, the authors recommend using "pearl drops" whitening toothpaste to burnish the truck gears. Regarding sound, these two engine monsters really need two sound decoders (and two speakers per decoder) to properly simulate the two diesel engines. If you wish to keep the existing Athearn motor follow this link to the Quick and Easy Tuneup page. In this part we show how to properly lube and prepare the parts for best conductivity and then Tune Up Tuesday - CN U33C Athearn Blue Box Scott Rails 6. It I picked up an old Walthers special run set of these Athearn cars cheap and built one to see how it would go. In this article, we will guide you through a step-by-step process to tune up your Athearn locomotive, ensuring it operates at peak performance. I am referring to the non-Genesis blue box Athearn motors. to/3tEFJI0 Jun 26, 2007 · I’ve had “Athearn growlers” for years and, imho, they don’t come close to the sounds of EMD 567s/645s, GE FDLs, or Alco 241s/251s. Also includes discussion of hello a few months ago i posted i was started a tune up on an older athearn gp38-2, well tonight i finaly got the guts up to put it back together including the pearl drop type toothpaste in the gear boxes, ok everything is assembled turn the power on it nudges so i switch reverse forward it OK! You are finished with Part 1 of The Athearn Tune-up Guide. My last three were an AC4400, C44-9W, and a Baldwin S12. This engine has been tested extensively during the Athearn tune up series Described in another post. I contemplated repowering it using an A-Line repowering kit, but to be honest i don’t think it’s the motor that’s noisy. Here is an Athearn tune up guide You said you tested 3/5 Does that mean you didn’t test the other 2 and all 3 ran poorly or 2/5 ran OK and 3 still ran Sep 3, 2013 · One more,thing,you will find this link,extremely helpful,in regards to Athearn tune-up and installing,DCC… www. ak-milw I was looking for a Trainline 8-40B in CSX scheme but missed out on one on ebay. The bulk of the noise seems to be originating from the u-joints. Athearn Locomotive Tune-up Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. Athearn blue box Stock rectangular motor with brass fly wheels #1 2. Walthers sells some in packs of 6 (motor thrust washers) for $1. Helix Humper Can motor #3 3. Anyway I got the AHM SD-40 and should recieve it soon. Aug 19, 2012 · I took it through the Athearn tune up as described on the internet (don't want to look up the link). Yes, they will still draw more amperage than an Atlas or Kato unit, but making the proper mods to the motor, drive train and wheels will make a HUGE difference in how they run! This Site is the home of the old Athearn Diesel overhaul and Tune-up Guide content. As your other thread inquires about rebuilding a Blue Box loco, I thought I’d respond to both threads together. The brand new out of the box Athearn, with the light removed, drew 1. I have had very good luck just doing the usual Athearn tune up procedures; tooth paste in the gears, a turn out of the motor brush springs, hard wiring the motor, and nickel silver wheels. Feb 10, 2002 · The Athearn Genesis line is silky smooth. I bought an SDH163 and speaker for one of the road I will check the idler gears as Paul has mentioned, and anything else that is part of the normal Athearn tune up. While I had it apart, I cut off about a third of the bushes springs and cleaned the motor with electrical contact cleaner. Sep 8, 2025 · You can select a specific model tune up kit with a FREE model diagram that I have printed from my collection of Athearn models or if your model type is not shown, you can most likely find one on the web at HOseeker. Oct 15, 2013 · Noisy old Athearn SD40 with Mashima Motor Started by Sunshine Express, October 15, 2013, 03:54:19 AM Previous topic - Next topic May 28, 2005 · A few days ago, I posted pics of one of the new Athearn RTR C44-9Ws that I detailed up, and got some really good feedback. We're going to clean up and tune up and old school gray jet motor that is found in a whole bunch of old school Athearn Blue Box locomotives. Most common is tear down, clean with soap and water, reassemble, lube with Pearl-drops, run one way for 30 minutes, run reverse for 30 minutes, tear down, clean, reassemble and then lube with plastic compatible lubricant. Feb 27, 2009 · I don’t know about your maintenance routine but here is a very thorough Athearn tune-up that you can follow. I have avoided them for these reasons. The couplers are on swinging bars with tabs for the truck crossbar to June Meeting, Favorite Model Display, Layout Tours, Fegruary Meeting Report, Hands-on Athearn Tune-up & DIY Switches Clinics, From the Super, Mountains of Fun in '91, A Great Chance to Help, PSR BOD Meeting Minutes, Consignment Table at Division Meets, Calendar of Events, Upcoming Division Meets, Want Ads, The Mail Species, Mid Year BOD Meeting This engine has been tested extensively during the Athearn tune up series Described in another post. I will keep looking. While you can still run a DC loco on DCC its likely to be noisy and have reduced speed. A total and complete success without hard wiring this Athearn Blue Box Alco PA-1 PB-1. I had a buddy of mine give me this Athearn GP38-2 engine with some growling issues. 87K subscribers Subscribed Index of /Publications/ArticlesIndex of /Publications/Articles Apr 28, 2014 · Be advised. I'm just going from memory, so forgive me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Athearn model comes with 40" wheels, and I was told that the prototypes have 42" (information I later learned to be inaccurate). I've been looking around for that brand of toothpaste because I'm in need of tuning up a couple of engines. Mar 31, 2011 · Unless of course, you have an Athearn RTR SW1000/SW1500. Does anyone know where I can find this toothpaste? I’ve looked at all the typical places: walgreens, CVS, wal-mart, local Short video of the end result from polishing the stock wheels and adding extra electrical pick up wipers. cleaned it, removed the gears, oiled, grease the whole 9 yards. I cleaned & lubed the gears on one of my two BL2’s in similar manner to the Athearn tune-up process, and the unit’s performance is now worse. It ate like 3 decoders before I said time to change motors. i took the advantage of this repair to make a video of how to fix the pro Dec 22, 2004 · The name of the articles are “TUNE UP FOR ATHEARN DIESELS” & “IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF A STOCK ATHEARN DIESEL”. I don't see any indication of grease, hardened or otherwise. You can buy your way into a fine running isolated motor by buying a repower kit, or you can spend a little time and tune up the stock motor and isolate it from the frame. Comments, Questions, Suggestions? e-mail Webmaster Sep 3, 2018 · Index of /Publications/Articles/Athearn_Tune_Up_FilesIndex of /Publications/Articles/Athearn_Tune_Up_Files Member Oct 26, 2011 #1 i'm in the process of doing a tune up on an athearn blue box gp38-2 while examining the gears from te wheel assembly i noticed one tooth does not come to a point and is a hair shorter that the rest of the teeth, is this a reason to replace the gear or could i use and emery board to file it into a point or just leave it a lone, the purpose of the tune up is noise Looks like a standard Athearn type design, at least from the botom view. It is all most a solder less install and comes with new Athearn Motor Mounts. Too bad i can’t say the same thing about my Athearn Dash 9. …If you like to up grade some engines with out sound, look at the Digitrax DH123AP decoder. This covers some tips and techniques to get the stock Athearn motor running better and more reliably. Nothing wrong with that motor if it actually runs. If your engine is brand new, you probably won’t have to do the motor tune up but the site is a good reference for later use. 00” Larry 09/17/2014 Upgrade services Leave a comment on Item 10 – HO Athearn Blue Box Engine Tune Up – (1) Engine —$23. the shell seems to amplify it so I put a piece Do you have one of those Athearn cars in the blue box, better known as a shake-the-box kit? Have you put it together and had trouble keeping it on the track? Maybe a few quick steps to improvement is all you need. Seems that a bit of common sense is what’s needed when running sound operated units. I strongly suggest remotoring with a can motor as per my Total Overhaul, especially if you plan to use DCC. 3 days ago · Athearn Locomotive Tune-up Discussion related to everything about model railroading, from layout design and planning, to reviews of related model tools and equipment. JASC BROWS FILE E:\Websites\MCoR\www\Publications\Athearn_Tune_Up_Files\cript Resources. I have done the basic Athearn Tune-up, and hardwired the motor, “erased” the commutator, cleaned the flash, and lubricated the gears Aug 21, 2010 · Last year I did the Athearn tune up to make my DCC RTR Rio Grand SD 50 run better. If required additional minimum tweaks will be applied the get the unit running. Does anyone know of a good technique of doing this? I recall from an internet news group several years ago a guy by the name of Peter Haas (sp?) out in California that would post a ‘blue print’ plan for tuning up these motors. A few words on how to install a basic wired decoder would be nice as well. Discussion includes O, S, HO, N and Z, as well as narrow gauge topics. modelrailroader. Model is in good condition. I gave the unit a good teardown, clean, and lube. Thanks for your input. So it sat till today. euyq rbiwc luvl syxeuc pgthxrd kmu umc bgdx vatlek amzp