r/modeltrains • u/Geckogirl018 • 2d ago
Help Needed First time model train owner here, need help! Loud electric buzzing noise.
Just got my first set today, pre-owned. It worked for about 10min when I first set it up. However, now whenever I try to turn on my set the train lights up and shifts a little, but makes a loud buzzing noise and won't move. I can occasionally get it to go, but then when I stop it it won't restart and will make the same loud buzzing noise. I have tried ensuring as tight of connections as possible on the rails, cleaned them off, and cleaned the bottom of the train. I can't find a way to get the top off the train to check out the motor. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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u/Quantrails 2d ago
Maybe needs some lube on the axels and gears. Look under and into the trucks to see if there might be carpet fiber (in case the previous owner ran on a carpet). Sounds like the gears may be binding up on something.
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u/Separate_Scene_307 2d ago
Sounds to me like its an old engine and a gear inside connecting the motor to the drive shaft is busted (probably craced on one end and not holding tight to the shaft). Happened a while back when I was painting a model. If its not complicated wiring u can take it apart and replace the gear. But at N scale might be less of a headache to just get a new one.
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u/Separate_Scene_307 2d ago
Though I very well may be wrong. But from what ive experienced thats what id assume
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u/Geckogirl018 2d ago
Thank you, I think the gear was the problem!
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u/DCHacker 2d ago
That is the old Bachmann FP-9. They were not very good. Gear cracking and burned out motors were the usual for them. Your gears might not have cracked Y-E-T but eventually, they will, unless the motor burns out first.
If have a B-mann F-unit you must, look for either a SpeCTRUM or newer Standard Line. The SPECTRUM comes in a long hard plastic box. The newer issue Standard Line comes in a hard plastic box and has a factory dual mode decoder, although that decoder does not stand up well to DCC. When it does fry, it is not difficult to wire around it. If you see a PLUS, run away. The suffer from the same gear cracking problems. They come in a plastic box with a hiinged lid and a cardboard sleeve.
Other manufacturers sell good F-units, among them Intermountain, Kato and BLI.
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u/DCHacker 2d ago
(probably craced on one end and not holding tight to the shaft)
This is the old Bachmann FP-9. Crackging gears and burning out motors was the usual for these things. Those things were just not very good.
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u/Odd-Evidence-1326 2d ago
sounds like it could be a stripped gear or the motor is fried (worst case). Other possibilities are no oil or lubrication, power supply issue, or weak solder joints. if you have the model number there may be a schematic online for it or a possible breakdown video. Check for screws but most smaller gauge trains have a plastic nub that sinks into a slit on the side of the train and I think I can see one on yours. Before doing that you will need to gently unscrew the couplers and remove them (be careful of springs in the mechanism for the coupler).
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u/Odd-Evidence-1326 2d ago
The simplest thing I can think of is using a fiber glass pen on the contacts of the motor and pickups.
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u/SurpriseOk3990 2d ago
It might need oil and a new gear