Model Railway Forum

I have been cleaning the track at Wykeham and using the Hornby Diesel Shunter as a test loco - its slow running capabilities are amazing, and it is good to run this loco very slowly over points and crossings. I decided to clean the wheels as well, and put it on the rolling road and applied (carefully) IPA on a cotton bud to the wheels as they revolved. I turned the power/speed up to half, and the noise omitted by the loco was frightening. This loco has a basic Hornby R8249 decoder - no sound fitted.It really is as loud as it sounds in the video clip. Any ideas??? Click on picture and turn your volume up.

IMG_1033 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

"Screaming" from a loco is usually a sign of a dry motor bearing. Depending on what motor is fitted inside, lightly lubricate with oil designed for model railway use (Not WD40 spray types or 3 in 1 etc) the motor shaft bearings at both ends of the motor where the shaft emerges from the casing.
If its an older model and uses a Ringfield motor also check that the motors drive cog (Grey metal gear cog) isn't slipping on the drive shaft.

Though listening to the video (thought it was a still picture at first!) it sounds more like gears slipping their mesh? Have a look with the body off.

Hi Barry, don't discount the rolling road rollers, might be worth trying another 0-6-0 just to prove.......HB

Hi Brian and Howard - Thanks for the suggestions. I think it is probably the bearing. I'll get the body off and explore. I have had the loco for a long time, but it gets very little use, and when in use it is run very slowly. The rolling road is fine. I don't think any gears are slipping as the loco runs perfectly, as I said the slow running capabilities are incredible. Barry

I have opened up the motor on mine and tried adding washers and lubrication etc. Nothing worked. The model itself runs ok but the squeeling remained.

I could not get the video thing to work.

Initially it sounded like dry gears then the bearing noise appeared. General lube required.

I have dabbed the minutest drop of oil on the ends of the motor shaft, and all of the usual places, and this has rectified the problem. I did not remove the motor - this loco has a flywheel and I don't think there is a worm gear - some form of universal joint between motor and wheels. If it happens again I'll strip the whole thing down. The loco was actually fitted with the old R8215 decoder - so I've obviously had the loco a long time.