Introduction and some questions

[scarpi]

Hi all. I'm new to the forum. Please excuse my long first post but I do have a quality concern. I have been an On30 model railroader for years though. Raised in the fifties with Lionel Trains as a kid and the hobby stuck with me. So here I am still "playing with trains". I have a number of Bachmann On30 engines on my RR. Initially I had two of the typical 2-6-0 steamers that ran well for years. They were very reliable. Now I run a 4-6-0  and a 4-4-0 along with an 0-4-0 and 0-4-2 Porters. My layout is standard DC using Peco On30 track. Both the 4-6-0 and 4-4-0 are DC/DCC engines. A while back my 4-6-0 was making a loud screeching noise as it ran on my layout. I sent it in to Bachmann and they couldn't find a problem. So they returned it to me. As soon as I got it back it ran ok for a while but then strangly the screeching noise came back and got worse so I returned it to Bachmann with a video of it exhibiting the problem. They found that it had bad bearings and replaced them. After getting it back it ran good for a while but now it hesitates and makes a kind of grinding sound while running. So I removed the bottom cover and cleaned and then lubed the bottom visible gears with Labelle 106 grease. I also lubed the side rods with Labelle 108 oil. The engine still runs poorly and makes a grinding noise. My question is,  where can I find instructions to take apart this engine to get to the actual mechanism and see what is the problem? I don't want to have to send it to Bachmann a third time for a "repair".  I also just bought a new 4-6-0 to replace it but have not run it yet. So I do support Bachmann, but it appears that my original 4-6-0 is basically a "lemon". I would like to see if I can figure out what the problem is and maybe order replacement parts. I'm also hoping that the new 4-6-0 that I just bought turns out to be as reliable as my old 2-6-0s were. I know this is my first post on the forum and I don't want to appear as a complainer. I just want to get some information so I can get my original 4-6-0 back to running like it should. Thanks all for reading this and if anybody can help me out with this I would appreciate it. Don

[Hunt]

Don,
Click Here for On30 4-6-0 locomotive parts list with a link to its exploded view diagrams.

Good luck with your project of getting your original 4-6-0 back to running like it should.

[scarpi]

Thanks Hunt for the reply. I will look at that. If I'm careful, hopefully I can see what is causing the problem and then order the parts. The 4-6-0 is such a nice engine I really want to get it back running normal again. 

[robinstrains]

Did you ever get to resolve the problem with your loco?
Robin.

[pjf]

This is a long shot but worth trying. I also have a 4 6 0 and it was squeaking  like an injured pig mostly on the curved track. After taking things apart cleaning, greasing and oiling I finely find that the tender was doing all that noise. Removed the wheels cleaned put a drop of graphite lubricant on each socket, bearings holding  the wheels. I love my 4 6 0 again. pjf