I took apart an Arnold S-2 to custom paint the shell. It is back together now and for the life of me I can not figure out what is wrong. When I apply power, no cars attached, the motors turns very strong but there is very little / almost no tractive effort. Almost like it is experiencing wheel spin. I have looked at the Arnold provided diagram and spookshow's website, http://www.spookshow.net/s2.html, and I dont think I am missing any parts. My inclination is the spring drive shafts are mis aligined or something... Anyone else have this issue? How did you fix it? -Brad
Make sure the truck frames are snapped all the way up onto the gear tower. I had the same problem with mine years ago. Seem to remember the bottom of the side frames werent pushed all the way on and thus where to low and sat on the rail head...causing lose of tracion at the wheels ;-)
Sounds like you have the split gear problem with the trucks. My S-2 has that problem and I've been debating whether to get it fixed or not.
As stated the gears may be the issue but the acid test is to try to turn the wheel or wheels with the shell off so you can see. If the wheels spin loose then a gear. But with the shell off you can also observe the spring drive to see if the spring is by chance slipping. Some of those springs have a section turned inside to make a bar across the opening and the bar has to fit into the slot on the universal while the body of the spring slips over the universal end.
Since no one has mentioned it..... Be sure and check the the worm guides (which look like black hats) are in place.
I really don't think tossing your custom-painted engine and waiting for something new to be released is the best idea, but if that's your decision, PM me !!! I'll take that S2 !!! I haven't taken mine apart yet, but I'm sure it's one of the issues that have been mentioned. Had something similar with a brand new Atlas C-630. Put it on the track, it would run but not move. After some cussin', I found the fuel tank wasn't snapped all the way on !!! Could be something that simple, ya' know ??? Hope you get it going. I LOVE mine !!!
That's why I'm holding back on repairing mine. Since I want to upgrade my S-2 to handle code 55, and because CP Rail began to replace the trucks on their S-2's with ones salvaged from S-4's towards the end, I'm waiting to see how good the Bachmann and Atlas locomotives are and how interchangeable the parts are with all three manufacturers before I decide to junk my Arnold.
I guess I was lucky with my S2s, as they already had the NWSL upgrades before I got my hands on them. Incredible difference over my original from '73-'74 !!! I would like to do the truck swap that DrMb brought up, but since these aren't for any proto road name, I may leave them. It's a project I just haven't got to, yet. I hope the Atlas and Bmann models are fantastic. Always nice to see something good released, plus you can get rid of your Arnolds with one simple PM !!! Now, I would really like to find out what happened to CHARGER's S2. May be something to watch for in the future with mine, ya' know ???
I'm not entirely sure where things stood with the OP's S-2 prior to the paint job. But if it ran fine to start with (and the trucks weren't disassembled as part of the repaint process), I don't think the trucks or the gears are the issue. -Mark
Yea...if not the trucks...possibly the tank as someone mentioned. That little &^%(%(%^ tank is a pain to line up and snap all the way around. Gears ?...maybe...but the fact it WAS running almost makes me think otherwise...JMO YMMV
Ran fine prior to painting, trucks were never messed with...been too busy with a new dog to dive into it...will let you guys know if I figure it out....
