Locomotive making noise

[Jackson4501]

Hey everyone, I have a Bachmann Ho scale 2-8-2 mikado #4501. The locomotive hasn't ran in some time it has been on display. I got the locomotive out to do a run and noticed the locomotive making a squeal noise. It only does it going forward. Any idea what it could be? I ordered bachmann ez lube to see if it is a lubrication issue. Thanks in advance.

[trainman203]

I have a good number of the Bach Man's steam engines.  Enough that I can't run all of them frequently.  Some of the ones, after not being run for a while, start and run very stiffly for a few minutes, apparently from the gear lubrication slightly congealing. Continuously running it for  a fairly good while always got rid of it.

You might try your setting your engine up on blocks, connecting it electrically, and spin the wheels for 15 or 20 minutes while you get a cup of coffee, and see if that doesn't solve your problem.

[Jackson4501]

I will give that a try. Thank you for the reply.

[Jackson4501]

Update: I ran the locomotive for a good 30 minutes to an hour. The noise did get quieter at a pacing speed and faster. The noise did get louder at slower speeds.Thanks in advance

[bbmiroku]

It sounds like your worm gear might be eating into your nylon gears. Or your nylon gears may have succumbed to the dreaded crack. Take the shell and motor off and look closely at the first big nylon gear. If there are no cracks, then you might just have some old lube. Rinse or wipe off the nylon gears and add new gear lube. Hopefully that solves the issue.

[Jackson4501]

Ok, I will look into that. Thank y'all for the replies.

[Jackson4501]

This is the noise it is making. Thanks in advance. 

[bbmiroku]

Alright. So your worm gear is eating into your nylon gear. That's the clicking noise.
Something in there is slipping and making your motor spin faster than it needs to. Since it only happens in one direction (forward) I can assume that there is a little play in your rotor axle making it line up better in reverse. Lube the big nylon gear, and lube it very well with grease.

[Jackson4501]

Is there any diagrams on how to disassemble it? Thank y'all for the replies.

[bbmiroku]

I believe there should be a parts diagram if you google image search for it, but I'm not quite certain.

[Jackson4501]

I was able to find it. The bachmann ez lube came in today so I'm going to try and take it apart today if not I will take it apart this weekend. Thank y'all for the replies

[Jackson4501]

Update: I lubricated the gears. The gears were in excellent condition. While I was running it to make sure the lube was spread through the gears. I noticed the right side of the locomotive the top straight piece above the piston rod was bent. I tried to straighten it out, but it seems like the top piece and bottom piece don't have any tension and is now causing the locomotive to lock up and won't do slow speeds. Any idea on how to fix this? Thank y'all for the replies.

[bbmiroku]

If it's plastic, a few passes from a small distance with a lighter should soften it enough to get it back in shape. But be careful! Too much heat and it will start to melt.

If it's metal, you'll just have to hit it with a jewelers hammer against a flat, solid surface.