Found a very good deal on a Rivarossi Heisler with DCC and Tsunami sound decoder. Per the seller, it was only driven to church on Sunday mornings by his 72 year old Grand Mother (Read that as used very little).
The locomotive seems to function well and I think I made out like a bandit! However, there were no instructions nor was there an exploded view, which I would hope Rivarossi would have provided. Can someone who owns one of these locos tell me what there are for instructions? This is a model from previous to Hornby taking over Rivarossi; or, at least when it was packaged no mention of Hornby was made.
I have visited Hornby's website and the technical sheets aren't available at this time
I have also contacted Hornby's website asking about this and they said they would get back to me.
Thanks in advance!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
No idea what you need instructions for. You did not mention any issues.
Here are some links about this loco. Sounds like it was modifed before you bought it.
http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Rivarossi/2_Truck_Heisler/2_Truck_Heisler.html
http://www.mrdccu.com/install/hoss/Rivarossi-Heisler.htm
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/204035.aspx
There is no recommended Tsunami for this loco atthe SoundTraxx site but the user might have used one for a Climax which is two cylinder.
Someone on You Tube used a Micro Tsunami.
I did some Google searches.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
HOSeeker has the 1995 version instructions. Other than a motor upgrade adn adding DCC, the rest of the mechanism should be pretty much the same.
http://hoseeker.net/ahminstructions.html
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks Randy, that is a site I was unfamiliar with.
Richg1998,
Why do you always seem to need to put some condescending/curt remark at the beginning of almost all your posts?
I want instructions because they are necessary/valuable when a repair needs to be performed. This seems fairly obvious to me! Besides they should have come with the loco! The seller has looked for them and can't find them; so, I need to run them down.
Yes, per the seller the Tsunami sound decoder was a custom installation. I didn't indicate that I thought this was a factory install.
I guess I should still thank you for the links, even though your naturally cranky personality really puts me off!
I just spent the past hour and a half there - and I've known about it a long time. I started tracking downt he catalogs for things I had as a kid, like the AHM catalog I paged through so many times it was just a loose collection of papers, dreaming about buying different locos and setting up interesting accessories.
NP2626 Richg1998, Why do you always seem to need to put some condescending/curt remark at the beginning of almost all your posts? I want instructions because they are necessary/valuable when a repair needs to be performed. This seems fairly obvious to me! Besides they should have come with the loco! The seller has looked for them and can't find them; so, I need to run them down. Yes, per the seller the Tsunami decoder was a custom installation. I didn't indicate that I thought this was a factory install. I guess I should still thank you for the links, even though your naturally cranky personality really puts me off!
Yes, per the seller the Tsunami decoder was a custom installation. I didn't indicate that I thought this was a factory install.
The signature is not meant for you. I meant it for the techies who have done the last software upgrade.
By the way, I tried seven times to change the signature and Kalmbach will not allow me to change it.
Spell check does not work in this forum either.
richg1998 NP2626 Richg1998, Why do you always seem to need to put some condescending/curt remark at the beginning of almost all your posts? I want instructions because they are necessary/valuable when a repair needs to be performed. This seems fairly obvious to me! Besides they should have come with the loco! The seller has looked for them and can't find them; so, I need to run them down. Yes, per the seller the Tsunami decoder was a custom installation. I didn't indicate that I thought this was a factory install. I guess I should still thank you for the links, even though your naturally cranky personality really puts me off! The signature is not meant for you. I meant it for the techies who have done the last software upgrade. By the way, I tried seven times to change the signature and Kalmbach will not allow me to change it. Spell check does not work in this forum either. Rich
I'm not refering to your signature!
This locomotive has been around for a long time. I was hoping that more folks would chime in here with information.
Those sheets witht he exploded view on HOSeeker are what you would have gotten if the original owner kept the instructions, or you bought it new in the box. I don't know that there is much more, a few articles over the years in model magazines about tuning them up maybe. I still have some of the ones for the early 70's RR/AHM stuff we had (some of the old timers were Pocher), all very Euro - numbers have commas where we would use a decimal point, normal for them (and hey, they were made in Italy). If the scans are good enough, the online version may be better - the sheets were not large, they had to fit inside the box under the tray for the loco, so the pictures are not very large. If the scan is good, you can blow it up much larger than actual size on a screen.
Yes, Randy, Thank you! Although I didn't prompt anyone to talk about this locomotive, it usulally doesn't take much prompting to get a conversation going on locomotives.
I've found the Heisler to be very well detailed and nicely finished. For some reason, who ever put in the Tsunami sound decoder into it, gave the loco the number 3. So, I ended up removing the decals and renumbered the loco to a new address. Also, I have determined this is a 2002 edition, from the number 2002 found on the underside.
I'm finding that the loco doesn't make very good contact with the rails and stops at any miss que! I need to do some further investigating into why this is happening.
NP2626,
Randy mentioned possible magazine reviews or tune up tips for your Heisler. Might I suggest the magazine index search thingy at the top of MRs page under the "Resources" tab. I get some good results there sometimes. Not that I have all those different magazines, but it'll give me a place to start.
Mark
WP Lives
That has been an avenue I have attempted in my research for this locomotive. Supposedly a review was done in Model Railroader in November 1986 on page 50. However, I have been all through that issue of the magazine and found no information on this locomotive, there.
NP2626 That has been an avenue I have attempted in my research for this locomotive. Supposedly a review was done in Model Railroader in November 1986 on page 50. However, I have been all through that issue of the magazine and found no information on this locomotive, there.
2626,
I just looked that up and unfortunately that was Model Railroad"ING", not Model Railroad"ER".
It was, however, November of '86 and on page 50 (and more.)
Jim Hediger did a repower in the October '85 issue, but I don't think that's what you're looking for.
Sorry I'm not better at helping with your current search for those specific instructions. In fact, as I look back at my contributions, I was no help at all...
It is sort of unbelieveable there isn't more information on the loco, it has been around for ever and a day and I would think there should be people who know it very well!
Your effort is much appreciated!
NP2626 Found a very good deal on a Rivarossi Heisler with DCC and Tsunami sound decoder. Per the seller, it was only driven to church on Sunday mornings by his 72 year old Grand Mother (Read that as used very little). The locomotive seems to function well and I think I made out like a bandit! However, there were no instructions nor was there an exploded view, which I would hope Rivarossi would have provided. Can someone who owns one of these locos tell me what there are for instructions? This is a model from previous to Hornby taking over Rivarossi; or, at least when it was packaged no mention of Hornby was made. I have visited Hornby's website and the technical sheets aren't available at this time I have also contacted Hornby's website asking about this and they said they would get back to me. Thanks in advance!
Was this a factory installed decoder or after market. I have a DC Rivarossi Heisler still in the box. I'm planning to use it for a lumber operation on my new branchline which I haven't started. I will add a decoder when the time comes. I have all the original documentation. In fact I hadn't even opened up the plastic bag which holds it until I read your post. If you can't find what you need from Hornby, I could copy what I have for it. There are two sheets. One is basic instructions for operating and maintaining it. The second sheet is a parts list with an exploded view. Its printed on card stock.
They've been around for a long time, that's for sure, in at least 3 different versions. But I don't know how popular they were. One club I visit now and then has one set up with an automatic shuttle circuit to run log buggies up and down a steep grade, other than that I don't know that I've ever seen one in the flesh. I see them advertised, I see them reviewed, but no one I know has one. Seems like a decent model to me, I guess more people want Shays for logging.
jecorbett NP2626 Found a very good deal on a Rivarossi Heisler with DCC and Tsunami sound decoder. Per the seller, it was only driven to church on Sunday mornings by his 72 year old Grand Mother (Read that as used very little). The locomotive seems to function well and I think I made out like a bandit! However, there were no instructions nor was there an exploded view, which I would hope Rivarossi would have provided. Can someone who owns one of these locos tell me what there are for instructions? This is a model from previous to Hornby taking over Rivarossi; or, at least when it was packaged no mention of Hornby was made. I have visited Hornby's website and the technical sheets aren't available at this time I have also contacted Hornby's website asking about this and they said they would get back to me. Thanks in advance! Was this a factory installed decoder or after market. I have a DC Rivarossi Heisler still in the box. I'm planning to use it for a lumber operation on my new branchline which I haven't started. I will add a decoder when the time comes. I have all the original documentation. In fact I hadn't even opened up the plastic bag which holds it until I read your post. If you can't find what you need from Hornby, I could copy what I have for it. There are two sheets. One is basic instructions for operating and maintaining it. The second sheet is a parts list with an exploded view. Its printed on card stock.
Randy (above) put me intouch with all the documentation there is available on the loco, I have explained that the Soundtraxx Sound decoder is probably not a factrory installation. Thanks for wanting to help! Maybe the loco isn't very popular and not many people have one or have used it if they do. Just wanting to see if people have ideas on how to improve; or, just plain wanted to talk about their Rivarossi Heisler.
NP2626 This locomotive has been around for a long time. I was hoping that more folks would chime in here with information.
Yes. That is a good point.
Can you think of a reason why they wouldn't?
I can.
Ed
I have the first version (two truck). The negatives:
positives:
Fred W
fwright I have the first version (two truck). The negatives: oversized (many-to-most models of geared steam are) - represents one of the largest Heislers made gearing isn't low enough - top speed is too fast light on its feet (plastic, not much metal), not a lot of pulling power comes apart easily shafts with plastic bearings wear quickly positives: first AHM locomotive I know of with RP25 flanges - will run on any size rail. As a result, it's the only AHM loco I have kept. at the time, it was the only reasonably priced geared locomotive available ($110 in late '70s) the driver action and side rods are fun to watch Fred W
FYI Fred-The later versions of the loco indeed came with lower geared trucks and correct wheel flanges, my three are built like tanks and probably some of the better designed and engineered locos out there, there is a definite gear change that occurring sometime between AHM and Rivarossi, the only reason I know this was an attempt to repair a truck using an old AHM loco bought off Ebay. :)
The only downside to these locos I have experienced is the bolts holding the side rods on can become loose and fall out, so be sure to check them regularly.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Geared Steam and Fwright, thanks for the information.
I forgot to add a link to the TCS website that shows instructions on adding a decoder, in the process it shows how to disassemble the loco, at least down to the frame, which can be the most difficult to figure out, after that is pretty self explanatory. Beware of removing the V-Cylinder assembly unless absolutley required, it can be a test of your patience putting it back together.
Excellent link, Geared Steam, thanks you very much!