Hi everyone!
About a year ago I purchased a Life-Like SW7 used from a used train shop. It didn't come with any exploded view drawing and such, and wasn't in it's original box.
I is a good runner but I suspect the previous owner dropped it as it has brocken handrails, and worse, the shell does not clip on to the frame well, and it doesn't appear that there were ever and screws holding it in place.
If anyone has drawing of the loco this could help me take it apart further. I am ecpecially interested in how to take apart the trucks, as there is some dust and dirt in the wheel I would like to clean out.
Also the lights don't work. I don't know if the bulbs are burnt out or if there is an issue with the contects. There are no wires connecting the headlights to the cicuit board, just these sprung, clip things.
Any other help and advice relating to getting this loco fixed up is welcome, and please let me know I you need more info in order to figure out what's wrong with it.
Thanks in advance everyone!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
If it help figure out what version of the Life-Like SW7 this is, the model is painted in Great Northern's Orange and Green Scheme and number 16.
SPSOT fanAlso the lights don't work. I don't know if the bulbs are burnt out or if there is an issue with the contects. There are no wires connecting the headlights to the cicuit board, just these sprung, clip things.
Isaac,
You can always connect the headlights to the + and - terminals of a 1.5V or 9V battery and test them out that way. Try the 1.5V first. If the light doesn't light then try the 9V. Most likely it's a 12V incandescent bulb.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Also try the 1.5 battery in both polarities in case the lights are LEDs they will only light in one direction of current flow.
.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SPSOT fanIf it help figure out what version of the Life-Like SW7 this is, the model is painted in Great Northern's Orange and Green Scheme and number 16.
Perhaps some mention of the scale would narrow down the search as well.
I have a sheet for the HO L-L SW8/900/600. I see an SW9/1200 in N scale. SW7 in the OLD Life-Like line?
Is it like this? It happens to be N scale but it is listed as an SW9.
https://tinyurl.com/yxvkn45m
This link shows the HO SW8/900/600/1200
http://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1431
OR does it look like this one?
http://www.spookshow.net/loco/llsw.html
Regards, Ed
I made a trip to my LHS and talked to the guys there. We figured out that the issue with the lights was because the wires between the frame and shell connect through a spring that doesn't get enough contect. I guess I'll have to hard wire it someday once I develop the skill. Unfortunaty one of the tabs that attaches the shell to the frame is broke off, so the loco may need a new shell anyway.
I may need to contact Walthers about that. If anyone knows how to do that advice on that would be helpful.
Also exploded view diagrams would be nice. If anyone knows how to get those please chime in!
Can anyone at the shop just bypass the spring and hardwire the headlight(s) to track power? Problem solved...
tstageCan anyone at the shop just bypass the spring and hardwire the headlight(s) to track power?
If he is actually referencing the N scale model, the "spring" is the collector for the track power as well. It contacts two tabs on the trucks to supply power to each half of the split-frame/weight and in turn, the motor AND headlight. Hard-wiring that would be a challenge for the best electrical wizard.
See the spookshow link above.
The OP had a previous post on an HO GE 70 tonner, so presumably this is an old HO Lifelike.
Walthers is going to be of no help for parts.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
We will have to wait for the OP's response as to what scale he's talking about. Funny that he didn't mention that in his first post.
I'm kinda thinkin' it's N scale, since he mentions the spring part in his last post.
Here's another interesting link to a decoder install in a LL N scale SW9/1200:
http://n-scale-dcc.blogspot.com/2011/10/tcs-z2-in-life-like-sw91200.html
Here's a parts diagram:
http://www.hrccomputing.com/nscale/SW9.gif
Mike
My You Tube
mbinsewiHere's a parts diagram:
Wow! I never saw a scan at ten dots per inch but sure enough, there it is
Cheers, Ed
gmpullmanWow! I never saw a scan at ten dots per inch but sure enough, there it is
That's I thought too. Found it on a Google search. Someone ought to start a Nseeker site.
Mike.
tstage Can anyone at the shop just bypass the spring and hardwire the headlight(s) to track power? Problem solved...
Yes, I could have them do that, thoug it would cost money, and even though it wouldn't be much, I don't exactly have a large hobby budget...
Also the shell doesn't sit on the frame nice and really can't be fixed... So I'm not terribly anxious to put work into hardwiring it... and I don't have soldering iron an don't know how to solder... really need to learn that skill!
Appologies for making you guy try to read my thoughts and figure out what scale I'm in! I do both HO and N scale, but this model is in HO.
Tried to see if Walther had anywhere you could get an extra shell on their website, and they don't have it as far as I can see! Not terribly impressed with Walthers, may need to check Ebay!
Thanks everyone for your help!
SPSOT fanTried to see if Walther had anywhere you could get an extra shell on their website, and they don't have it as far as I can see! Not terribly impressed with Walthers,
It is a fifteen or twenty-year old model. How long should they stock parts for it?
Just sayin'.
gmpullman It is a fifteen or twenty-year old model. How long should they stock parts for it? Just sayin'.
Fair enough, spare parts isn't the most profitable buisness in this hobby! Just saying, they don't have anything in terms of drawings or parts or anything, even for their newest stuff, except for their building kits!
SPSOT fanbut this model is in HO
Life-Like_SW_0001 by Edmund, on Flickr
Life-Like_SW by Edmund, on Flickr
mbinsewi Someone ought to start a Nseeker site. Mike.
I've never noticed this before, but HOSeeker does have listings for N scale.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
During my regular walk through Ebay last night, I did notice a couple of P2K SW shells, complete with all the details.
Thanks for the documentation Ed, I suspect I will find it very useful whenever I need to work on that loco. Looked on Ebay, and theres a MILW shell for about $30, I have to think about it...