Lionel Happy Holidays GP7 and Christmas car (video)

From your experience, I'd say it might be too heavy a load.   It would also depend on how big a load the Christmas cars present.  If they have high rolling resistance, or you have grades, it could be too much for the single motor.

You should be fine.  You said it pulls the train.  If it is too much, the pullmor will make noise and it wont pull the train.  I have over thirty similarly equipped Geeps but with all stock gears and only a few are weak pullers.  Most will handle twenty regular plastic cars with no trouble.

Thanks guys,

 

Thanks for the replies, keep em coming.

 

The layout doesn't have grades, it's pulling 0-27 Xmas cars, and the motor gave no signs of straining before the gear gave out.

It doesn't sound like you have a motor problem but a drivetrain problem.  Your motor hasn't burned out so it should keep on pulling. 

You have traction tires on your engine so that doesn't allow for any wheel slip. The full torque of the motor and gears will bear the entire load put upon them and in this case that load may be causing the gear to eventually strip.  I would look to replace that gear with an original Lionel PW used (or NOS) gear.  They used better quality USA made materials back then, (that IMO are far better)  than the Chinese parts of today. If you attend train shows you can find old Lionel Geep trucks with those gears on them at a good price.

Of course Gunrunner Johns suggestion that you go to two motors or power units should solve the problem as well.

I would also switch to an EP(Extreme Pressure) synthetic lithium based red tacky grease to further minimize wear at the worm and worm wheel... like Lucas Red 'N' Tacky #2. Use synthetic oil at all axle bearings to minimize side loads and drag on the powertrain.

Dennis,

 

Thanks for the reply. Are the PW gears steel?

 I would also check the armature bushing. If its worn and egged shape, the armature will not make full contact with the gear and this will happen. Also possible the motor was loose

 

 

Bill

Picture worth 1,000 words dept: Here's the locomotive and train in question. It seemed to be running fine for some time until that awful grinding sound was heard. Not captured on video, though.

 

 

We used one of those Christmas GP-7's on the South Hills Shopping Center display layout several years running. We put in the brass gears, and generally had to replace them every other year. Our suspicion was heat from running hours at a time softened the brass, so it got chewed up faster than normal. Eventually we just swapped the shell over to a Williams chassis.

 

Like I said, maybe time for a dual-motored model for this task.

 

On the other hand, the previous gear lasted 12 years. That doesn't seem like a significant problem. I'd just replace the gear and roll on. Maybe try the high-powered grease Rob mentioned.

Folks,

 

I just installed the new $16 drive gear assembly, and the Lionel Happy Holidays GP7 is  off the maintenance track, running like a sewing machine, and officially back in service entertaining the masses once again...voila!

 

Thanks for all the advice.

 

Craig

 

 

 

Craig what are you doing? Trying to compete with me for the longest train? 

Dave,

 

Hahahah No one can compete with you. 

 

When we had our first child I started buying Christmas cars, one per year. Now that Drew is 17 I have quite a collection. They stay under the layout most of the year, but rule the layout during the holidays.

 

They are fun.

That's a load of Christmas cars! Nice job!

 

Peter

Thanks Peter,

 

I think when we become empty nesters, I might stop collecting them. But, I still have a 13 year old son, Wyatt, so that's awhile off.

I would say you have had many years of successful service out of that engine and with your repairs, it look like it will keep on ticking.

 

Thanks for the video.

Craignor,

    I have a very old GP7 Northern Pacific in Black/Gold and Red trimmed, from back in 1951, and it has never been rebuilt and I run her every year, the horn battery is now nonfunctioning however, I have pulled 10 Christmas box cars with her for many many years.  I know your Christmas GP7 top should fit my GP7 engine base, and I have been looking to acquire the GP7 Christmas engine myself.  You might want to consider picking up an old Lionel GP7 Northern Pacific and switching the cab tops, the early Great Northern GP7's seem to be almost breakdown free engines.  Swapping out the tops might be the way to eliminate your problems with your GP7 Christmas engine.

 

Craignor I did stop collecting the Christmas box cars after my daughter moved out, now I wish that I had not stopped, I am going to look for this years Christmas box car maybe last years also, if you know where I can get my hand on the 1983 and 1984 Christmas Cars, I would like to acquire them also.  In those years I was a little to busy to acquire them.

 

PCRR/Dave

 

The old Northern Pacific GP7 pulling 8 of the 10 Christmas Box Cars around the Bear Christmas tree.

Dave,

 

I see a lot of old Xmas cars at the TCA York Meet, I would try there...or look on Ebay.

Craig,

   Never thought about trying to get them on line, good idea, I have not been to York for many many years, bad time of the year for me to be away form the Gun Dog/Fly Fishing businesses.  I will definitely check on line however.

Thanks

PCRR/Dave