Another kato sd45 loksound install

[Steveruger45]

Just finished this one by putting the decoder in the tank.
This was an Aztec modified frame to start with, so I thought why not just make the recess in the tank bigger with a dremel.  After some inspiration and IM assist from AKNscale, this is the result.
I have not done this type of install before and although a little harder to do, mainly in controlling the dremel, it is now an option where space is limited or frame is too narrow.  The speaker is a 16x9mm which does sound better than an 8x12mm and the usual two 220uF x 25v keep alive caps.
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[peteski]

Looking good electrically but I see lots of oil in the truck's gears.

Those are made from slippery plastic which needs no lube. That is how my friend runs them and even after years of operation (to the point that the wheel treads have groves worn in them from the track) the unlubbed spur gears don't show any wear.  But the brass worm and plastic worm gear do need lube. I use just a bit of Woodland Scenic Teflon grease.  And I  have to confess that I also put some of that grease on the spur gears - but so little that you can barely see it on the teeth.  I never use oil on the spur gears.

[AKNscale]

Looks good, you should throw a video up!

[tehachapifan]

Another great looking install!

[RBrodzinsky]

Very nicely done. I’ve played with the idea of decoder in fuel tank.

[Steveruger45]

Looking good electrically but I see lots of oil in the truck's gears.

Those are made from slippery plastic which needs no lube. That is how my friend runs them and even after years of operation (to the point that the wheel treads have groves worn in them from the track) the unlubbed spur gears don't show any wear.  But the brass worm and plastic worm gear do need lube. I use just a bit of Woodland Scenic Teflon grease.  And I  have to confess that I also put some of that grease on the spur gears - but so little that you can barely see it on the teeth.  I never use oil on the spur gears.

Well spotted. Far too much oil came out when trying to put a spot on the worm bearings and far too much went in. 
Trucks come apart next for a good clean.
Also I have a whine when above half full speed.  It’s perfectly quiet at less than half speed.  Seems I am going to have to look at the drive train. 

[Steveruger45]

Looks good, you should throw a video up!

Thanks. And thanks for the IM support too.
When I try to post a video it is rejected.  I take videos on my iPad so maybe it’s an issue with that type of file (.MOV) ???

[peteski]

As mentioned on the Admin forum, direct video upload is not supported on TRW.  Imagine how much storage space  would need to host all those.  We are grateful that he allowed local photo hosting.

[MK]

Thanks. And thanks for the IM support too.
When I try to post a video it is rejected.  I take videos on my iPad so maybe it’s an issue with that type of file (.MOV) ???

Upload to YouTube.  Then post link here.

[Lemosteam]

Or Vimeo.

[tehachapifan]

....Also I have a whine when above half full speed.  It’s perfectly quiet at less than half speed.  Seems I am going to have to look at the drive train.

This sounds like it might be what is sometimes referred to as the "K### screech" (don't know why it's called that as it is very common among other manufacturers' locos too)? If it is, I've found that it can usually be resolved with a tiny droplet of oil where the worm shafts enter the motor. I've heard too much (or perhaps the wrong kind of?) oil here can possibly damage the motor (short?), so I put a droplet on the end of a wire first and use the wire to apply the oil to control the amount. If I recall correctly from previous discussions here and elsewhere, a theory of the origins of this noise (sometimes associated with some loco slowing) is extremely rapid (harmonic?) vibration due to friction at the motor bearings (maybe even the worm bearings too). When my locos start doing this, it usually doesn't happen until they get to a certain speed, as you described, and are often fine at low speeds. I've seen manufacturer(s) inserts that mention no need to add oil, so I suppose doing so is an at-your-own-risk venture.

[Steveruger45]

Thanks the input Russ.
I must have had this loco apart and back together again 20 times now trying to find the cause.
I pulled the trucks apart and these were clean other than the excessive over lube.  I just had to clean out the dimples. Both trucks run nice and free too.
I lubed the motor bearings, with one drop of labelle each, ran the loco and no change in noise above half throttle.
Long story short is I messed with the bearing block spring fingers for pressure applied, tightened up the bearing blocks in the holders, they were a very  sloppy fit, checked and adjusted back lash on the worms, fitted one thrust washer to even up the back lash from front compared to back and lastly made sure the u joints didn’t touch the bearing block or flywheel with the small amount of lateral movement of the motor armature and then put an MT coupler spring in the end of each u joint where they go into the flywheel.
Result of all this, just a fraction quieter but same underlying issue.
As it happens, zero to  half full speed  is all I will be using anyway.
My other sd45 of same vintage is no problem.
Go figure.
Steve

[Steveruger45]

Upload to YouTube.  Then post link here.

Or Vimeo.

Thanks guys. I just uploaded a video on another thread (mysteries of the IMRC sd40-2) for the first time using YouTube.

[Steveruger45]

Looks good, you should throw a video up!

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Here is the video.
It runs really well except for the high speed whine when over half throttle.

[tehachapifan]

Sounds great! I couldn't really make out the whine with the sound decoder running. I can't recall if this was mentioned before but, with the sound file you have, F4 will activate "low idle" when the loco is at a standstill. I have the same file in an SP SD45T-2.

On the whine issue, I've occasionally had to incrementally add lube (again, tiny droplets on the end of a wire) to either the motor bearings and/or the worm bearings when the whine/squeal was being stubborn....being cautious of the risks of applying too much at the motor bearings. I also typically use LaBelle Lite oil for bearings.