03-14-2010, 05:03 PM
Carl,
You have an old Athearn SW7 there. If you pull the shell off (gently pull the plastic away from the tabs sticking out of the side of the fuel tank and lift off), you'll be able to see the likely cause of the problem: Athearn used a steel bar to run pickup from the trucks to the top of the motor. I'm willing to bet it's either corroded and not/or making contact with the trucks. Most people gave up on the metal strip and just soldered a wire from the truck pickup to the top clip on the motor.
The problem you're going to have with that beastie is finding parts. Athearn (Horizon Hobbies) doesn't stock much these days. If there is some identifiably missing bit, you'll likely have to go to a train show and cruise the parts tables.
You have an old Athearn SW7 there. If you pull the shell off (gently pull the plastic away from the tabs sticking out of the side of the fuel tank and lift off), you'll be able to see the likely cause of the problem: Athearn used a steel bar to run pickup from the trucks to the top of the motor. I'm willing to bet it's either corroded and not/or making contact with the trucks. Most people gave up on the metal strip and just soldered a wire from the truck pickup to the top clip on the motor.
The problem you're going to have with that beastie is finding parts. Athearn (Horizon Hobbies) doesn't stock much these days. If there is some identifiably missing bit, you'll likely have to go to a train show and cruise the parts tables.