Does anyones L1 have a slight lurch when stopping in reverse without a train behind it? Something I just noticed happening with mine
I actually have seen Tom's L1, AAMOF it's sitting my track behind me. It certainly has some sort of odd little problem with the gears. It has a little lurch as it stops in reverse. In addition, once I got it to lock up tight by holding it and putting more force on it in reverse. It was moving back with a load and then just stopped with the cab light flashing. There was a noticeable click of the gears pushing it forward to unlock whatever was locked up.
Here's a short video of the lurch. This happens anytime you stop in reverse. Forward doesn't seem to have an issue.
Attachments
Pat, I got it to lock up a couple times by holding it back and putting more force on the gears, so back in the box it goes for a trip to Lionel. When it locks up, you can push it forward and unlock it, but as you say, that's probably only going to work for a few times! 
I got my 1369 after it made one trip to Lionel for addressing the lockup issue but it still persists. In fact both of my L1s still lock the gears if they are stalled running in reverse. They don’t lock up if stalled rolling forward. I dinked around with the 1369 on the bench and found that there is a pretty significant amount of thrust being put on the motor in reverse and I think that is the root cause. Shimming won’t do much other than change the depth of gear mesh of the worm. From what I’ve seen it looks like Lionel attempted to shim the motor mount.
I may get back into the 1369 soon but I am trying to finish another project. I thought about slotting the mount to adjust for backlash. I have R/As for both to go back but at this point I won’t even bother.
One other thing - the pickup roller arms are very soft and the mounts for them allow them to twist about the vertical axis. This combo of freedom and memory can cause them to get hung up backing though my switches and causing the gearbox to lock. I actually printed better mounts but that doesn’t help with the soft roller arms.
I thought about slotting the mount to adjust for backlash.
this is exactly what has to be done along with figuring a correct shim or stack of shims…there’s just way too many inconsistencies in the models that went across the bench to nail down a one size fits all remedy,….just like the Legacy K4’s ….the shims for the lateral shaft slop ranged from .010~.040…….with some uglier than that ….it’s kinda like toss the theories out the window, and just dive in for a solution….
Pat
From what I remember the motor gets pulled into the gearbox in reverse. The gearbox had no lateral slop so it wasn’t a misalignment issue.
@Norm Charbonneau posted:From what I remember the motor gets pulled into the gearbox in reverse. The gearbox had no lateral slop so it wasn’t a misalignment issue.
Yeah, ….I got my directions mixed up, …it does pull it in during reverse……I had some that would exhibit the jump in forward,….
Pat
What must be happening in reverse then is the worm on the motor is being pulled in to where the gear is shallow further back close to the blind spot…
Pat
So the motor shaft needs a throwout bearing?
Seriously… I was considering a Pennsylvania M1 and maybe even an I1, but I’m really doubtful at this point.
Tom's is in the box with a Lionel label on it, bye...bye...
Thanks @gunrunnerjohn. I also have an I1 on order too. Hopefully they don't lionelize them and have all these issues.
The only thing I have on order is the Strasburg #90, I sure hope they don't cheap out on that drivetrain for the money they're getting!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:The only thing I have on order is the Strasburg #90, I sure hope they don't cheap out on that drivetrain for the money they're getting!
Well, it doesn't get more expensive than the VL bigboy, and, as we now know. They left out the $6 sound chamber in the loco.
I Have an I1 on order. We may have to start a new " issue" thread for that ,in just a few more weeks.😕
@rplst8 posted:So the motor shaft needs a throwout bearing?
Seriously… I was considering a Pennsylvania M1 and maybe even an I1, but I’m really doubtful at this point.
Ryan, the M1 is a pretty big locomotive, ….back in the TMCC days, it shared the chassis with the Mohawk, which they already had the large motor in the firebox, and a better gear box design, …I’d be willing to bet they’d do the same again with the M1, …..the basic frame already exists in Legacy format,…..I wouldn’t sweat the M1 buddy!!
Pat
I do sort of wonder how the I1's will fare? Are they a whole different design from bottom to top of similar to the L1's?
I have read all of the previous posts about the L1. So I have a question to ask of the owners of this engine. Given all the issues with this engine. Would you buy one again?
I'm asking because I’m thinking about buying one as a Christmas/birthday present to my self. And because, along with my K4, it’s the largest big steam I can run on my layout.
Thanks,
David
@ncdave posted:I have read all of the previous posts about the L1. So I have a question to ask of the owners of this engine. Given all the issues with this engine. Would you buy one again?
After reading this thread and seeing Tom's broken one in person, my answer would be no. I much prefer to buy used stuff as I typically don't have to do that much to beat them into submission, and I have a lot of money in my pocket left over.
Case in point, I picked up this M1a for $500, it was tip-top out of the box. I added the Chuff-Generator to give it 4-chuffs/rev and the Super-Chuffer II to give it full chuffing smoke as well as enhanced LED lighting features. I could have paid twice as much or more, but why? These models are proven reliable runners after years of being on the market, contrast that with the mechanical experiments for some of the new models! Anyone remember the Mogul? 
I agree with John. Getting the Dreyfuss was one of my last main goals in model railroading. Now I'll just sit back and let the catalogs go by and focus on other things like having Pat create Hudsons from older versions at a much cheaper cost overall.
@ncdave posted:I have read all of the previous posts about the L1. So I have a question to ask of the owners of this engine. Given all the issues with this engine. Would you buy one again?
I'm asking because I’m thinking about buying one as a Christmas/birthday present to my self. And because, along with my K4, it’s the largest big steam I can run on my layout.
Thanks,David
No. Same goes for the Legacy K4s. Lionel should be offering refunds on these engines. Either partial ones to cover a fix by Pat or a full one to take them off our hands.
@ncdave posted:I have read all of the previous posts about the L1. So I have a question to ask of the owners of this engine. Given all the issues with this engine. Would you buy one again?
I'm asking because I’m thinking about buying one as a Christmas/birthday present to my self. And because, along with my K4, it’s the largest big steam I can run on my layout.
Thanks,David
I purchased the Santa Fe version of this locomotive. Other than the dry gearbox, there has been absolutely no problems with the locomotive. At $800 for a beautiful locomotive and brass tender, yes, I would buy again.
