If separate sale tenders were offered again, I'd be a buyer! I could use one...

r0gruth, thanks for the reply.

Lee: Use copper wire and strip all insulation off. then slip it between the insulators on the center rail of your tubular track at the joints. Make sure the wire is long enough so that it adequately bridges the gap. It's nothing fancy but I've found it to work.

Thanks again Lee. Wire is 16 gauge and I may try another feed to see what happens. I also have a little copper wire trick I'll try with the track as well.

Thanks again!

Lee,

Thanks again! No TMCC on my layout. Just DCS which is not hooked up to that loop.

On the other hand, I put my other conventional Lionel loco on that loop today just for sh*ts and giggles and what do you know it started the slowing down/stopping thing. Now I've narrowed it down to possible the transformer which I'll swap with another to test. That'll help me narrow it down even further. I don't think the track is the issue nor do I think that a loop of that size (a 27" circle with 4 straights cutting the circle in half) needs more than 1 power feed.

Thanks for the help. I'll continue to work with it next weekend.

Joe: Thanks. I'll try it later or tomorrow.

Tony: I don't believe it is a bearing issue but will check it out. It is not that I have an aversion to sending something back it is just that I don't like things being gone for months at a time coupled with the fact that I don't know who is dealing with it, etc. One reason why I've always like the local guy is that he does all the repairs right in front of me from start to finish.

All engines (and just about everything else I buy) are purchased brand new.

I personally have great luck with my old Lionel 4-4-2 (which I'm considering converting to TMCC) and a small number of older MTH PS2 locomotives. Not all MTH PS2 engines, new or old, have been perfect but I have a small handful in my operating fleet that just keep on ticking and as a result, they see the most use.

Lee,

Thank you! I can't run it fast at all because just a tad to much juice and it will go launching on the floor. Track is clean, power/wiring is done properly, etc.

Even though every Williams engine I've had has been a nightmare, this one has been better and I think if it were a bad engine, I would have started experiences these and other problems early in the game.

Thanks again!

Quote from: the Bach-man on August 30, 2010, 11:13:18 PM
Dear Bob,
As I recall, the ones I've run at shows start short hood forward,  but I'll check with Three Rail.
Have fun!
the Bach-man

My GP9 starts short hood forward. It is a WBB unit, not a Williams original.

Thanks for the replies folks. I won't be able to get down to doing testing/checking until the weekend but for now I can generally answer your questions.

tomplatten: Thanks! I don't think the tires are causing the issue but will check this weekend.

phillyreading: Z-1K provides the juice.

Joe Satnik: I took the body off last time I ran it (roughly 2 weeks ago) and the motors were the hottest with the boards being a close second. I can' t remember just HOW hot the boards were but I remember them being quite hot as well.

Alright folks, the GP seems to be acting up.

Before we start YES it IS well lubricated.

After running for about a half hour, the engine begins to slow down and if just left (no throttle adjustment), it will eventually stop. The engine does get pretty hot for my personal standards. I personally think the heat built up in the shell is to blame but does anyone else have any suggestions (other than send it back for service which I'm not going to do).

I do like the engine a lot and would run it more often if it wasn't for this issue.

Thanks GTBob!

Thanks 3rail. I appreciate the reply and help!

Thanks Dominic. Just thought I would ask and of course welcome more input...

I know the catalog lists the Trainmasters as 0-31 curve engines however will they take 0-27 curves?

Thanks!

I found with my MTH Hudson that the 2 axle trailing truck has two different sized wheels - just like the prototype. The axle with the larger wheels forces the main driver axle (the axle with traction tires) up off the rail ever so slightly giving it less than stellar pulling. Not that it can't move itself, but it sometimes struggles depending on the grades and train behind it as the main driving axle doesn't have 100% perfect contact with the rail.