Skip to main content

For Carl Tuveson/ Mike Olson and others:  My new Am Flyer GP-7 runs great right out of the box. Routine lube done, ran engine by self to break in.  It can not pull 10 cars without drive wheels spinning begging for traction.  Has anyone added weight to this eng to help with this problem?  Add 2nd moter to give power I am looking for?  Art

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Roundhouse Bill posted:

What track are you running it on?  My GP7 will pull 21 Gilbert freight cars on Gilbert track with no spin or problems.

Bill,

You are the complete opposite of me when it comes to Lionel Flyer.  My GP7 (which I sent back for repairs) could not pull 5 cars up an incline without spinning the wheels (SHS track on a 2-3% incline).  On level track, no problems.  I mean, COME ON!  It has traction tires and SHOULD pull a decent consist.  By the way, cleaning the traction tires with alcohol helped a bit.  If I decide to keep it, I'll add weight to it and paint the pilots UP grey.  It LOOKS nice, but as with almost everything I've purchased from Lionel, it "had issues".

 

OGR Webmaster posted:

In our program of continuing prototype education...

It is a GP7, not a GP-7. EMD never used any dashes in the main model number.

Dashes came into use when EMD launched the “Dash 2” series of locomotives in the 70s. That spawned the SD40-2, GP40-2, etc. But there were never any dashes in the main model number.

True enough. Checked with Staufer, too. No hyphen. However, both Lionel and Gilbert used the hyphen so liberally in their postwar catalogs that it has become ingrained in the toy train psyche. 

Bob

FWIW:

The mountain grade upon which I have derived a living at times for the past 10+ years has one stretch that's 2.69%. Averages about 2.5% or so. An Alco C-420 is rated for only 700 tons on that grade, or about 5-6 loaded cars. "Back when" in the Frisco era, one GP7L was rated for only 770 tons on that grade. That's roughly 7 loaded cars of the era.

Used to switch a lime plant that had a 4% grade up to one of the loading tipples. The GP7 being used MIGHT shove about 7-8 MTs (about 238-272 tons) up that grade IF all went well.

Tonnage on grades brings prototype locomotives to their knees.

Andre

 

Last edited by laming

I didn't seem to have a problem but mostly newer cars. Just for grins I tried mine with 10 link coupler cars with the die cast frames on probably dirty American Models track on flat lands. Definitely a no go. Eight was the max and not easily. Then again I'm not sure how many wheels were actually rolling.

Then I tried a single Flyer Alco  with two motors and no traction tires. It pulled the train. For those who like the smell of ozone it was sure cranking it out.

What that means I don't know but my train on the GP7 will mostly be AM, SHS or converted to AM trucks.

For what it is worth.

Jerry, You do have bad luck with Flyonel.  Maybe you should have someone else buy it for you to trick the spirits that are against you.

My UP GP7 pulled 16 Gilbert freight cars up my Gilbert trestle set that has two curves on the way up.  Gilbert track may have more flat surface than S-Helper and AM track.  That could make a difference in traction.

Roundhouse Bill posted:

Jerry, You do have bad luck with Flyonel.  Maybe you should have someone else buy it for you to trick the spirits that are against you.

My UP GP7 pulled 16 Gilbert freight cars up my Gilbert trestle set that has two curves on the way up.  Gilbert track may have more flat surface than S-Helper and AM track.  That could make a difference in traction.

Bill,

Even if someone else bought anything from Lionel for me, it would only delay the inevitable. 

You may have something in the fact that Gilbert track has a wider surface.  It would make more contact with the traction tires. 

I wasn't going to buy any more Flyonel until I saw the UP Geep.  Looks nice, has good sounds (the FlyerChief allows a bit of customization) nice lighting effects, good price point and runs smoothly.  I should have known better.  It ran great, even though it didn't pull any more than a few cars up a grade.  But I suspect a cut wire due to interference with the flywheel.  It's on its way back to the dealer and has been "delayed in transit" according to the USPS.  See?  Even sending it back doesn't work out for me! I'm DONE with Lionel!     From now on, I'm sticking to American Models.  Even if something goes wrong (and it rarely does), they at least stock parts!

I do not know if this helps, but I too was having problems with one of my LC locos pulling some of my cars with out slipping. I had 4 post war cars (empty gondola, 2 Sunoco 2 dome tank cars, an empty cattle car and Caboose).  Turned out it was my postwar Caboose.  One of the axles on the rear trucks was binding, It was would turn some and then it wouldn't , like the bearings were seizing up except it has no bearings. I replaced the trucks and now my train works great. Just my 2 cents

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×