I ran across this subject thread today when I was trying to find out about problems that might be encountered with the 4 axle trucks used on some of these big diesel locos. To my current knowledge there were not a lot (any) other HO model diesels that utilized 4 axle trucks??
Why would I be interested in such?
I'm playing with ideas of adding 'diesel power' to a 'disguised pusher car' to help out my single headed steam engines. In this particular case I am thinking of adding power to the tender of my Bachmann Northern engines that came with long-haul tenders that had two 4-axle trucks
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
Darth the thread is still helpful 12 years later. Although the video doesnt exist anymore. Just picked up an old pancake drive and was kicking around an athearn repower. Even debated using the athearn frame and stretching it. I like your approach for simplicity more than my frame stretch mod thoughts. Thanks for the info even though it is over a decade old
Darth
I will take some photos of work i will try tu upload them ( if someone help me how to upload the photos)
Saludos from Mexico City
I think this thread has returned more than any other I've ever written.
I'm glad my tips could help you! From what you've described, I suspect your chassis design is more sturdy than mine. It should last you a long time!
_________________________________________________________________
Thanks a Lot Darth!! your post was so helpful for me to conclude this work of repowering this engine. Years ago I purchased a DD40AX with pancake motor, and a Friend recommended me the exchange of chassis but he did not tell me how, then i just use my imagination to do this work, I used the chasis of DD40 and Motors of Athearn, then I Split and, modified the chassises (2) and when i tried to begin the electrical work, i saw your article, and then I applied your tips to conclude the repower of this beautiful engine.
Saludos from a UP fan in Mexico City
Esteban Tonatiuh
Good threads never die, your contributions are appreciated. You've helped me several times and I appreciate it, your one of the "go to" guys on this forum.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Wow, I guess some topics were never meant to die! It's good to know people still find it interesting.
grayfox455I also am in need of my Athearn DD40 trucks needing rebuilt or replaced. I got some replacements a year ago but lost out just lately. Mine seem to stick at one point in their revolution but I cant seem to see what the problem is. Also would love to some advice on remotoring the buggers with more powerful DCC friendly motors.
Is it sticking in one revolution of the wheels? At may be that there's some flash in the gears, or one of the axles is poorly shaped where it rides in the bearing (which actually happened to me once). Or, one of the axles is badly warped, and every time it turns, it binds with the large gears. The easiest way to find the problem would be to take everything out of the trucks, and then put each axle and gear in one by one until you find the one that's the problem.
If you clip the frame contacts off the Athearn motors, then they'll be DCC friendly (unless you've got the old half-amp Jet 400 motors). But if you really need new motors, check with microlocomotion on eBay. I'd use the Canon EN22 (used by OMI in their recent brass) or 18x37mm coreless (which is a fantastic runner with low current draw). If you need double shafts, than this motor is the same one used by BLI, Rivarossi, and a few others. Or if your DD40 has more than 20mm of room widthwise inside, than a single one of these Pittman motors should do very well.
cudakenDarth, boy you used a lot of weights! Your layout looks like it is coming a long as well. To bad you don't live a closer, I sure like to pick your brain on some remoter projects. I know I can do the work, just don't know the In's and outs of it yet.
I did use a lot of weights in that DD40! The thing was always so lightweight and weak before, so I wanted to make sure it would be a good, strong puller for if I ever got a layout that needed that kind of power.
My layout's actually come along farther since I put that video up (more grass and ballast, more trees, and some Rapido phone poles), but it's still not finished. I actually only live a couple hours north of you, so who knows? Maybe well meet at a train show by some random chance!
Darth, boy you used a lot of weights! Your layout looks like it is coming a long as well. To bad you don't live a closer, I sure like to pick your brain on some remoter projects. I know I can do the work, just don't know the In's and outs of it yet.
Ken
I hate Rust
This thread now has new life put into it TWO YEARS LATER!!!
Check with your local O'Reilly's Auto Parts store for 1/4 oz stick on weights. For $33 you get a whole lot of 'em.
I also am in need of my Athearn DD40 trucks needing rebuilt or replaced. I got some replacements a year ago but lost out just lately. Mine seem to stick at one point in their revolution but I cant seem to see what the problem is. Also would love to some advice on remotoring the buggers with more powerful DCC friendly motors.
Bob
SteamFreak wrote: It sounds very quiet, Darth, even with all of those wheels and gears. The FK-130's are pretty silent.
It's actually kind of loud in person, but still not bad. You're right, those motors are pretty silent.
Darth Santa Fe wrote:Wow, it's been two months now since I posted this. I guess some topics were just meant to live.
Old threads never die...
It sounds very quiet, Darth, even with all of those wheels and gears. The FK-130's are pretty silent.
Now you just have to doublehead it with your new Big Boy.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
Autobus Prime wrote:Nicely done. It should be a real brute. Where did you get your Mabuchi motors?
I got them from a very reliable eBay seller, the K4 Supply Company. Here's the link to his auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/Parts-Small-12V-Motor-for-Model-Train-Mabuchi-FK-130SH_W0QQitemZ190111687954QQihZ009QQcategoryZ484QQcmdZViewItem He's still got about 30 left.
By the way, what modifications did you do to the stock pancake drive? I am very curious, because the weird layout seems like it would be really unfriendly to modifications.
I switched it to front wheel drive instead of the standard rear wheel drive, added a little weight (not much, because the old motor was too weak for anymore), and made sure everything was very clean and well lubricated. The only thing that could've made it run better was a second power truck and better tires.
Wow, it's been two months now since I posted this. I guess some topics were just meant to live.
DSF:
Nicely done. It should be a real brute. Where did you get your Mabuchi motors?
What, you re-powered it but didn't add a sound decoder?
Tisk tisk tisk.
SteamFreak wrote:Just upload it to YouTube or Photobucket. They automatically compress it into Flash format.
That's pretty cool! Thanks for letting me know about that, or I probably NEVER would have uploaded it!
(edit) Oops, that didn't work. Let's see if this works:http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/DarthSantaFe/?action=view¤t=BachmannDD40.flv
Just thought I'd let you all know I've got a short movie on my computer now, but it's a 50MB mpeg for 1 1/2 minutes of video. I'll try and find a way to size it down before I post it, since it even runs slow on my computer.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Darth Santa Fe wrote:I'll be sure to keep an eye on the lead tape. I've found that if it let's go, super glue does an excellent job of re-sticking it.
I'll be sure to keep an eye on the lead tape. I've found that if it let's go, super glue does an excellent job of re-sticking it.
Yes, CA does a great job of gluing the weights (and various body parts ) to the frame or shell.
So what are you planning to do with all of this Union Pacific mega-power, Darth?
Darth Santa Fe wrote: csmith9474 wrote:That looks great!! I seem to remember that somebody was making an upgrade/repowering kit for the Bachmann "Centennials". Was that A-Line/PPW? I remember it being a heck of an upgrade kit, with the price to go along with it.I haven't heard of a DD40 repower kit, but I do know that sometime last year I think? A Line got Bachmann to make a run of undecorated Spectrum DD40s for them. I don't know if they have any left at this point.
csmith9474 wrote:That looks great!! I seem to remember that somebody was making an upgrade/repowering kit for the Bachmann "Centennials". Was that A-Line/PPW? I remember it being a heck of an upgrade kit, with the price to go along with it.
I haven't heard of a DD40 repower kit, but I do know that sometime last year I think? A Line got Bachmann to make a run of undecorated Spectrum DD40s for them. I don't know if they have any left at this point.
That is it then. It was an entire kit you could buy, and I think that it was well over $100.
SteamFreak wrote: From one tinkerer to another; really kewl Darth! Where did you finally locate those worm housings? Did you order them from my LHS?One thing I would caution about is using the stick-on weights to support the shell. I've had that tape let go over time, in spite of degreasing the mounting surfaces beforehand. If you want to stick with tape (), Scotch makes a heavy duty indoor/outdoor mounting tape that's more like the super strong servo tape I put in my RC car, but this can be found at Home Depot. I use it for motor mounting applications.I second the motion for a video.
From one tinkerer to another; really kewl Darth! Where did you finally locate those worm housings? Did you order them from my LHS?
One thing I would caution about is using the stick-on weights to support the shell. I've had that tape let go over time, in spite of degreasing the mounting surfaces beforehand. If you want to stick with tape (), Scotch makes a heavy duty indoor/outdoor mounting tape that's more like the super strong servo tape I put in my RC car, but this can be found at Home Depot. I use it for motor mounting applications.
I second the motion for a video.
Thanks.
I got the worm housings from a brand-new condition (but pretty old) Athearn F7A I picked up at a train show for $12 last week. Everything in that F7 was in completely un-used condition when I got it, so I'd say I got a pretty good deal on that one. The worms weren't even rounded off like in most of my other Athearns!
I'll be sure to keep an eye on the lead tape. I've found that if it let's go, super glue does an excellent job of re-sticking it. So far, the only time it's ever lost its stick is when I peeled it off of whatever it was stuck to (not an easy task!!).
I'll see if I can figure out how to use the new digital video camera this afternoon. If I do, I'll try posting a video for you all.
Thanks everyone for your kind comments.
One thing I forgot to mention earlier is that the DD40 can only make it around a minimum 22" radius, instead of the 16"? radius the old drive could go around. Of course, most of you would want to run an engine this size on larger curves anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter too much.
BRAKIE wrote:Darth,Good job! Its nice to hear there are those that still like to tinker around improving drives and re-powering less then stellar performers.
Working on things so they'll run better is one of the things I like doing in this hobby. Tonight, I just finished making my new AHM Big Boy run fairly smoothly. The boiler mounts had a LOT of slop in them, and it could hardly do anything without wobbling all over the place.