Athearn 2-8-2 Question

[tomwatkins]

I'd like to improve the performance of my Athearn Genesis 2-8-2's on grades. I've added 2 oz. of weight forward of the middle of the driver wheelbase which brings the weight of the locomotive up to 14.7 oz. and improves the balance front to rear. It's not enough weight to move the balance point forward to the centerpoint of the driver wheelbase but it has helped. I've also removed the spring from the pilot truck, which also helped.
I could add a bit more weight over the 3rd and 4th drivers which wouldn't help the balance but would make the loco heavier. I guess it would be worth trying.
Has anyone tried adjusting the spring tension on the rear truck or shimming the spring to change the ride height of the rear and transfer more weight to the front of the loco? If so, how did you do it and did it work.
Incidently, my ruling grade is 2.5 -2.6%. My Spectrum 2-8-0's weigh 12.6 oz. and will pull 8 properly weighted 40' cars and a caboose up the grade without a problem. The 2-8-2's weigh 14.7 oz. and struggle to make it up the grade with 8 40' cars and a cab.
I'd really appreciate any suggestions or thoughts.
Thanks,
Tom Watkins

[nfmisso]

Hi Tom;

Raising the back will hurt things because it takes weight off the drivers.

Adding more weight, even over the 3rd & 4th drivers will help.

Have you filled the cylinders yet? Remember you need to have a hole for the piston and valve rod.

Have you un-bundled the wires to the tender? This helps both tracking (horizontal deflection) and traction (verticle stiffness).

[orsonroy]

Nigel's right, adding as much weight as possible to the engine, even if it's not properly balanced over the drivers, helps in the long run. I've increased the performance of a couple of my Athearn Mikes by adding weight wherever I could to the inside of the engine (domes, air reservoirs, stack, around the frame, etc), replacing the cab with a brass casting, and scraping off all the cast-on details, replacing them with brass and lead detail parts and wire. (and since I'm modeling the Nickel Plate, there's a LOT of superdetailing that can be done) Replacing the pilot with a Cal-Scale or Pre Scale casting helps, too. And definitely remove both truch springs and the heatshrink tubing around the wire bundle.

Even with all that work, my Athearn Mikes won't handle more than nine cars up my 2.25% grade (of course, it's on a 32 degree S-curve, which doesn't help). Even though the models have a VERY nice drive train, I've basically given up on them, and have standardized on the old Oriental Powerhouse USRA light Mikes for my roster. Right out of the box, they'll pull 15 cars up my grade, and they only cost about twice what an Athearn engine costs.

[tomwatkins]

Thanks for the info. The sleeves over the decoder tails were removed first thing. The cylinders are filled, as is every other place I could find forward of the midpoint. The airtanks are brass tube and are filled with lead . Lots of brass detail parts were added. I model the Southern and the L & N , and I like to detail locos and rolling stock. I believe it's time to go back inside them, add as much more weight over the drivers as I can, and see what happens. I haven't given up on them yet, but I'm close.
Thanks, again,
Tom Watkins

[dave9999]

You would think that Athearn would have addressed this problem before releasing this loco. This was the first steam loco I purchased. It struggles up a 2% grade pulling five boxcars. I've invested a Soundtraxx decoder and the time and effort to install it and the speaker. So I guess I'll keep it.
I understand that other manufacturers 2-8-2's perform much better. Would traction tires help?? Dave

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Would traction tires help??

Hi Dave;

Yes, but the cost in other areas would be very high. And, you need access to a lathe. Adding weight is the best way to go... Bear Metal is probably the most manageable way to get lots of weight;
http://bearlocomo.zoovy.com/category/bearmetal/

Of the USRA Light Mikes: Athearn, Bowser/Cary, djh, IHC and Oriental Powerhouse;
the Athearn and djh have the best detailing, but worst pulling.
the Bowser and Powerhouse are the pulling champs
the IHC/Mehano the lowest cost

[tomwatkins]

I agree that it's unfortunate that the problem with pulling on grades wasn't addressed before it was released. It's a good looking model out of the box, and with added detailing it gets even better. The low speed performance is excellent and it pulls fine on level track. Unfortunately the Southern and the L & N had lots of light mikes, but not not much level track in western North Carolina and east Tennesse. So it's back to the workbench one more time for more weight over the third and fourth drivers. I'll let you know how much additional weight I get in and what the effect is. Model Railroading IS fun, actually it's a ball, but sometimes it can be challenging too. That keeps it from being boring. Incidentally, my BLI Heavy Mikes should be here next week. I hope they are quite heavy.
Thanks again,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

You would think that Athearn would have addressed this problem before releasing this loco.

You would also think that MR would have been straight forward when they reviewed the
light pacific" a fine performer" and the Mikado " worth the wait".

Both units have traction/imbalance problems. I don't think there are any other steam
locos that have received so many inquiries about the above problems

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3
You would also think that MR would have been straight forward when they reviewed the
light pacific" a fine performer" and the Mikado " worth the wait".

Both units have traction/imbalance problems. I don't think there are any other steam
locos that have received so many inquiries about the above problems

Ah, but there's a problem here. Both the above comments are absolutely true. Both Athearn engines ARE "fine performers", and both were "worth the wait". Unfortunately, they're not perfect engines, and definitely need work to get them to their peak potential.

Of the two engines, the Pacific definitely pulls better, because of the nature of the different drivers. Both engines have a quality drive train that I still say is the best of ANY of the modern-generation plastic steamers on the market (note: I don't yet own any BLI engines, but either own or have played with all other new steam). Both engines filled a much-needed hole in affordable, mass-produced steam models (the IHC USRA stuff is toy train quality, which leaves Bowser and out of production Oriental Powerhouse USRA lights).

Both engines perform very well - on flat layouts. I've had the Pacifics pulling 14 car passenger trains for hours, and the Mikes pulling 25 car freight trains. But up my 2.25% hills, the Mikes only lug about eight cars. Part of the problem with the MR review is the fact that their reviewers don't seem to actually road test their engines, preferring a lab environment "ounces of pull" test, which tells us nothing truly useful. The other problem, of course, is that Athearn is a major advertiser in MR, and you can't bash a customer's product, can you? Frankly, MR should scrap their review section completely, as REAL reviews are posted within hours of an engine (or whatever) getting into the hands of buyers these days, and GOOD reviews are regularly posted in online chat rooms and forums.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3
You would also think that MR would have been straight forward when they reviewed the
light pacific" a fine performer" and the Mikado " worth the wait".

Both units have traction/imbalance problems. I don't think there are any other steam
locos that have received so many inquiries about the above problems

MR should scrap their review section completely

CONCUR!

Had I bought one of these models based on the MR review, I would have been a
very disappointed modeler/subscriber.