Time for followup. It went back to acting badly. I put the problem on the shelf and got back to it today. I found 2 fundamental problems.
1. The wheels in the front truck wouldn't turn. This truck was not bright and shiney as the rear one was. It was "fuzzy" fealing. Tried to loosen up the wheels and then a pop, crack n break. Zinc pest.
Ran without the front truck, still a problem surging. There is an amp gauge on the track now. Amp gauge showed the amps surging up and down as the odyssey control tried to hold speed. Amps would double and drop over 2-3 seconds. Cab2 shows a number 1-32 when you change the speed setting. It wouldn't move until 12-13.
2. Couldn't find anything binding in the gears or motor. Took the bottom drive gear assembly off. A mangled traction tire fell out. It was stuck in the small space under the assembly and dragging on a wheel. Probably been there since I got it.
Reassembled, without the front truck. Now it moves at setting 1 with odyssey control on. Runs smoothly now, no amps surging.
A new set of traction tires on order, with a new front truck.
