Proto 2000 Phase II GP7 Issues

Twiget

New Member
OK, where to start???
I have a Proto 2000 Phase II GP7 that has some serious issues. Let me start out by saying that I love this loco. When I first got it I loved the way it ran. And the sound was out of this world. But now it is horrible. It started out with a surging problem which I corrected by adding more feeders to the layout. Then It started to stop and start on its own. I thought it had developed a short somewhere so I opened it up and checked all the wires and connectors along with the clearance between the power pick ups and the loco frame. It all looks good. I then though that it may be a DCC issue. I tried restoring the factory defaults and that did not work. It has gotten so bad that now all it will do is play the start up sounds and when it starts to move it shuts down. Lights go out and sound shuts off. If I bump the loco or push it just a little the sound starts up and it starts to move then shuts down again. It has a QSI sound decoder and I am using a MRC Prodigy Advanced DCC system. None of my other QSI locos have any issues on the layout. Sorry for the long post but I am at my wits end.:cry:wall1:cry:wall1:cry:

Aloha
Tom
 

Nomad

Active Member
Twiget, my first move would be to clean the track and wheels. Your description sounds just like a dirty contact.

Loren
 

John P

New Member
I purchased a Proto 2000 Phase II GP9 in Dec 2006-Boxing Day sale at Modellers Choice. Just like you, I loved the way it operated up until about 2 months ago when it start acting up, like yours, it would stop dead lights out sound off, I would give it a push and a way it went. I check for broken wires etc. and found nothing out of order. I then removed the wheel sets and looked at the bronze bushings and the coorsponding guide plate in the trucks and found black soot on the bronze bearings. I cleaned everything, checked the wheel pitch and put everything back together and everthing seemed to be good until a couple weeks later when it started accting up, check the wheel sets again and they seem to be clean???? I noticed though, that the loco was hestitating at the same spots on my layout which happen to be at certain turnouts which I then found that the wheel sets were shorting out at the frogs, I tweeked the turnouts and everything seems ok again. I hope this will help you out and I keep an eye on this thread for any other tidbits
Later
 

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
Dcc is a lot of fun to operate, but it does have a couple of disadvantages. 1. Any small short circuit will shut it down no matter how momentary. I have found that Proto 2000 locomotives have more flywheel than any other locomotives I run. Shut off the power and the flywheels will keep one rolling for as much as 18 inches if the train is running at passenger speeds. They can roll through a momentary short in a turnout, and keep on going, but if running on dcc, the system will trip off even after the locomotive has run through.

2. You have to have "stiff power". Any momentary power loss due to dirty track, wheels, or pick ups will cause an interuption and reset of the dcc decoder module.

If you have sound decoders installed, the problems are multiplied. When the modular club sets up at a show, we start with clean track and clean wheels on locos, and we are constantly and regularly cleaning track and wheels throughout the show. In fact, the club has suggested that each member make a masonite slider car for track cleaning and put one on every train that is running at all times. If the organizers of the show we are participating in put us next to Lionel or LGB guys with their smoke units, our problems are magnified.
 

Twiget

New Member
Roger that,:thumb: When I get back home from work. I will clean the track real good and drop the wheel sets and check the bronze contacts and give everything a good cleaning. Ill let you guys know how it went. Thanks for the help.

Aloha:wave:
Tom
 

jeffrey-wimberl

Active Member
I have found that Proto 2000 locomotives have more flywheel than any other locomotives I run. Shut off the power and the flywheels will keep one rolling for as much as 18 inches if the train is running at passenger speeds.
You haven't seen what the PA can do have you. That baby can roll on for 6 feet or more! I know, I have one.

I don't have the GP7 but I do have a P2K GP30 that can be mighty flaky at times. Usually a cleaning of the trucks is in order. It does this about twice a year.
 

Twiget

New Member
I took all four wheel sets off the loco and took them apart. Lots of gunk where the brass bushings ride on the half axel. I cleaned all the parts and reassembled the wheel sets being sure to set the gauge according to standard. I ran it for about 20min and it did not stall once. I will give it a good long work out tomorrow but it looks like dirt was the problem. I will give the track a good cleaning tomorrow. I guess that something about the design of this loco makes it very sensitive to dirty rails and wheels as my other locos don’t seem to be as affected. I will keep checking to see if the dirt returns to the wheel sets. Thank you guys for the advice. I had cleaned the wheels and flanges but did not think of the bushings and supports.:thumb::thumb::thumb:

Aloha:wave:
Tom
 

gfmucci

New Member
With two returned HO-scaled engines in 2 weeks for two different problems associated with their small size, I am leaning more and more toward O-scale. When a great HO is working properly, it is fantastic, just like the old English sports cars. I'd say a '57 MG and a '57 Chevy are good relative comparisons.
 

steamhead

Active Member
Hey guys...For solving part of your problems...the dirty track part...check out my TRACK GUARD...It's currently listed on eBay...Listing ends tonight...Search for HO Track Guard.
Good luck..!!
 

Twiget

New Member
I cleaned the track real good and ran trains for about three hours. My GP7 ran like it was new.:mrgreen::mrgreen: Now I know that when it starts to act wonkyhamr it is time to clean the wheel sets and make sure the track is clean. Thanks for the help it is most appreciated.:thumb::thumb::thumb:

Aloha:wave:
Tom
 
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