Ernst regearing kits

[Anonymous]

I am interested in the regearing kits offered by Ernst for Athearn locomotives (they gear them down considerably for finer slow speed control, cooler running, etc.) I would like to try one in an SW1500 and in a GP38-2. The list of their kits I looked up showed one only for an SW9/1200, but the company sent me a mailing listing that same kit as the correct application for an SW1500. That doesn't jive with their information in the Walther's catalog and elsewhere out there. Has anybody tried these? I would like to know if the kit for switchers will actually work in an SW1500, and if anything can be done to adapt one to a GP38-2. Thanks for the help.

[Anonymous]

I have purchased three kits for my Athearn F-7's. In every instance the exploded diagram printed in the directions was printed wrong! to veiw it properly I had to hold it up and turn the page arround to the other side to make what I was reading go along with the diagram.

I know this doesn't answer your question, but I just wanted to give a heads up.

My directions say that the kit was for all 4 axle diesels.

[Anonymous]

I wonder why you are replacing good units? If the Athern is growly or noisy, find the flash or burr. I have only lapped two Athern units in a 100. I lapped them with Crest Toothpaste and they became good performers. I wonder how you are going to reduce the amperes enough to note a change in temperature. The new A motors only pull about 1/4 amp. See some of the articles on improving A performance before changing the gears.
By the way, my Roundhouse Shay works with the original parts. Lindsay

[nfmisso]

This is what you want:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/259-44

for both your GP38-2 and SW1500.

Athearn locomotives with Ernst gears are much LOUDER than stock, and tend to be jumpy off the start, like an old pickup with a "granny gear"*

The motors will not run significantly cooler due to the increase geartrain friction. You may also not get finer slow speed control, and you may get jerkier responses to changes in speed or applied voltage.

Ernst gears work best in heavily weighted locomotives with high inertia flywheels.

They are also not the easiest to assemble. They can go into at least two different ways, one results in the desired 32:1 reduction, the other way is 12:1, the same as stock. The gears are less than half the width of Athearn's, need a careful clean up, and Pearl Drops run in.

Nigel

* Granny gear: more than twenty years ago some pick up truck (¾ and 1 ton) were equipped with a granny gear. It is a very low first gear, typically in a 4 speed manual transmission, that was good for maybe 5 mph at maximum rpm. Usually, you'd start out in 2nd, shift to 3rd at less than 20 mph and be in fourth by 40 mph. In granny gear, you were either pulling real hard, or braking real hard. Definitely not smooth.