1979 Williams TCA Anniverery GG1 question

[trains2353]

I bought a '79 Williams TCA GG1 at the TCA. Single motor; cast body. It can barely pull itself much less any cars. Lubed where neccesary; cleaned the motor. Little better; but not much. This has the AC motor with the diode to run on DC.

Is this normal? Or do I have a problem somewhere. Bad diode? Didn't run at all when I got it home. Was shorted out by a pinched wire to the light.

TIA;

Bob

[ADCX Rob]

This should have a DC can motor with the diode to run on AC.

They are underpowered despite having magnetraction, but run better with a full wave rectifier replacing the single diode. You can add traction tires to one axle set by strecting & cementing a pair of regular 222-108(or Calumet/Stewarts PVC) tires over two wheels.

The cars are so bad they are near impossible to get them to roll easily w/o a cash infusion, they are not worth it.

[rtraincollector]

ADCX Rob

This should have a DC can motor with the diode to run on AC.

They are underpowered despite having magnetraction, but run better with a full wave rectifier replacing the single diode. You can add traction tires to one axle set by strecting & cementing a pair of regular 222-108(or Calumet/Stewarts PVC) tires over two wheels.

The cars are so bad they are near impossible to get them to roll easily w/o a cash infusion, they are not worth it. 

Thanks for the info. I never cared for the set but always see it selling on the cheap side so now I know why no one wants them

[cwburfle]

Yes, they were shipped with a single motor powered through a single diode.
Williams was supposed to develop their own reversing unit, but it did not materialize. Each owner was eventually sent an e-unit to install.
Also, Williams did make a second motor available for the Anniversay GG-1.

According to the Greenberg book on Williams product, which was written by an associate of Williams, replacing the diode with a full bridge rectifier will greatly improve performance.

(This post is pretty much a rehash of what has already been posted)

[Plate Rail]

Mine was bought with the 2 motors and and bridge rectifier already installed.  My biggest complaint, besides the unimaginative decoration, is that the wheel design gets hung up on various turnouts, either from gears or deep flanges.

  Ditto about the matching cars, which I plan on retrofitting with trucks from later William's cars.  Cudos to William's here... they are made of Bakelite, just like the original Lionel Madisons.

Bruce

[trains2353]

Lots of good info here! Sound like replacing the diode with a full bridge rectifier is the way to go for me. Where can one be found? Is Radio Shack still in business?

TIA;

Bob