Screeching Kato Dash 9 problem

digisnaps01 Nov 17, 2015

  1. digisnaps01

    digisnaps01 TrainBoard Member

    145
    3
    15
    I've not had any time to run the layout for some considerable while until now and today was spent cleaning track and putting some stock back out of storage.

    Unfortunately I've found that I have two Kato Dash 9's which are screeching as they run.

    Despite the screeching noise the locos both run solidly, no lights flickering or stalling.

    It occurs in forward and reverse and on straight and curved track sections.

    It is not a constant screeching noise, rather intermittent but frequent.

    It sounds like the flywheel(s) is catching the frame but can see no evidence of any rubbing.

    I've stripped them both down and lubricated them but it's made no difference.

    I don't recall them being so noisy when they were stored earlier in the year.

    It's not something I've come across with Kato mechanisms before so if anybody else has come across this and solved it or can offer suggestions that I haven't already tried, I'd be pleased to hear.

    Thanks
     
  2. Mike C

    Mike C TrainBoard Member

    1,833
    468
    42
    Sounds like motor bearings . Very very very small drop of oil on each one should cure the screech .
     
    mtntrainman likes this.
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,558
    22,732
    653
    It seems like someone had this problem earlier in 2015? If so, it might show up in message archives.
     
  4. ns737

    ns737 TrainBoard Supporter

    722
    135
    26
    yes it is motor bearing noise. I have some of my engines screech when they have sit to long in there case. lube the bearings and the noise will go away.
     
  5. Bob Horn

    Bob Horn TrainBoard Member

    444
    0
    20
    It is any bearing on the high speed side of the driveline. Worm bearings, motor bearings. I use Conductalube sparingly, works great! Some of my Kato's are over 15 years old. Bob.
     
  6. digisnaps01

    digisnaps01 TrainBoard Member

    145
    3
    15
    Thanks all for the suggestions about lubricating the motor bearings.

    I thought I'd already done that but went back and added a little more oil but to no avail.

    Still screeched.

    What I noticed was that after each time I split the frame and re-assembed, the noise “pattern” changed.

    Eg After Mike C's initial suggestion I took one apart again and added some more oil to the motor bearings and flywheel shaft. Re-assembled it and thought that had largely done the trick as it ran forward with only the slightest occasional screech. Put it in reverse and the screech was almost constant!

    Repeated the assembly/disassembly process and got back to the original situation of intermittent but frequent screeching.

    That got me thinking it was more an assembly problem so I split the frame and this time I removed the cardan shafts and the worm gear assemblies. The motor amd saddle were left in place.

    I lubricated the shafts either side of the worm gear and bearing blocks then re-installed everything.

    It did the trick on both locos so now they are purring around the layout rather than screeching like banshees!
     
  7. Manitobamodeler24

    Manitobamodeler24 TrainBoard Member

    322
    192
    7
    I am glad I found this thread as I have the same problem, thank you guys.!
     

Share This Page