The small stuff that gets you.

[KRM]

 

Well if this small stuff don't beat all.

Got to looking at that twin motor ALCO 200 series B-unit I built today to see why the one motor is shorting out. It had a bunch of up and down play in the armature and I thought it was just plain worn out. It would run fine going in forward ( armature pushing up because that motor is facing backwards )  but when you would shift it to reverse (armature pushing down)  it would short out. So I pulled the brushes and armature out and tried it and it ran great. Well then I thought WTH??

 I got to looking at the armature and saw ever so small rub marks on the bottom of the winding and looked into the field frame and saw small rub marks on the top of the frame. Knowing this is a 1957 200 series alco motor I thought I should check for the small ball bearing ( 600-110 ) that goes in the plastic lower armature holder and guess what was missing?

 I had another plastic lower holder from a 1957 202 and took out that ball bearing and put it into the motor I was working on and BINGO!!! Works great. Now what to do with that replacement motor I bought on e-bay last week??      Maybe build the second A unit so I can have the ABA set?

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Great find!  Thanks for sharing

Jim

[Penny Trains]

Three powered units would be nice.  But why not build something original like a powered caboose or motorized "runaway" giraffe car? 

[rtraincollector]

Penny Trains

Three powered units would be nice.  But why not build something original like a powered caboose or motorized "runaway" giraffe car?  

Good one Penny

[Postwar Paul]

[KRM]

Penny,

You may remember that 8N did the 200 series ALCOs ABA with 4 motors all with two axles of Magnetraction years ago, that makes eight axles of Magnetraction. So what I am doing is not anything original. Just a stump puller and I have already copied the twin motor ALCO B unit that is very original as far as I can tell from seeing what 8N did. When you show me how to put a 200 series ALCO motor and fit in a caboose or motorized "runaway" giraffe car?  and look correct with ALCO power trucks under it I will consider your idea. But for me two more axles of Magnetraction will work.  For now I think I will just make the A-unit to go with the AB I already have. Pulling 30 cars,,,no sweat. Cost price value. 

 I think you missed the point of the tread in the first place..It is the small stuff that gets you.

[8ntruck]

Kev - Like you said, this thread is about the simple things. 

But, expanding on your two motered A unit idea, I originally considered a two motered A unit when I started my project.  You could remove the coupler knuckle from the power truck and use one of the Alco shells that did not have the open apron in front.

Packaging the e-unit might also become an issue when adding a second power truck. 

I think you would end up having to cut holes and slots in the front of the chassis to match the existing holes and slots in the back.  You would also have to figure out where to place the power pick up rollers too.

4 motors is about the limit for the e-unit.  You could probably run more motors through an e-unit - at least for a little while before the smoke and sparks show up.

[Penny Trains]

KRM

Penny,

You may remember that 8N did the 200 series ALCOs ABA with 4 motors all with two axles of Magnetraction years ago, that makes eight axles of Magnetraction. So what I am doing is not anything original. Just a stump puller and I have already copied the twin motor ALCO B unit that is very original as far as I can tell from seeing what 8N did. When you show me how to put a 200 series ALCO motor and fit in a caboose or motorized "runaway" giraffe car?  and look correct with ALCO power trucks under it I will consider your idea. But for me two more axles of Magnetraction will work.  For now I think I will just make the A-unit to go with the AB I already have. Pulling 30 cars,,,no sweat. Cost price value. 

 I think you missed the point of the tread in the first place..It is the small stuff that gets you.

 

Remain calm.  It's not worth blowing a gasket over.

[KRM]

I don't have a problem Becky, Just telling you how it is. I did not want anyone to think I was the one that came up with this idea when it was 8N. Like I said, when you show me how to put a 200 series ALCO motor and fit in a caboose or motorized "runaway" giraffe car?  and look correct with ALCO power trucks under it I will consider working your idea. Still waiting to see that finished monorail idea you were making a few years back. Did I miss the finished product?  Some ideas work, and some don't just the way it works. They are all worth a shot if they add up.