I have quite a few these that I have been doing amp draw test and converting to DCC and LED lighting. The first run of these was released about 1973, and continued into the 90's.
Most are great runners, drawing about 0.76 amps under a stall test, but what I have found is the "cracked axle" syndrome.
Just a heads up, if you have any of these, and if either truck seems to bounce, or make the "clunck clunck" sound, take the bottom cover off and check the axles.
Out of the 6 locos I've done so far, detailing, DCC, and LED lighting, I've found 2 with cracked axles. Usually 2 per truck.
These locos were released at the same time, and share the exact same chassie and power assembly. One shell fits the other, perfect.
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewi...Most are great runners, drawing about 76 amps under a stall test, but what I have found is the "cracked axle" syndrome....
Geez, Mike, no wonder they have cracked axles/gears! Whaddaya usin' for power? It's a wonder the frames didn't melt, never mind the gears or the plastic bodies!!
Wayne
I just caught that Wayne! Yea, I guess, at 76 amps, I should expect melted gears! not just cracked.
Yep, I forgot the decimal point goes before the 76, as in 0.76.
That'll teach me to post a topic just before bed time.
I thought cracked axles was a Proto 2000 phenomenon, and the fix was to use Athearn gears.
.
So Athearn gears crack too? This is not good news.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
These are BB locos, and I have no idea what type of weather conditions or enviroment these were kept at. I didn't buy these new, and bought them, cheap off Ebay, with in the last 6 or 7 years? or more?
I originally wanted to build a fleet of SD45s decorated for the WC, as they had a large fleet of them, aquired from the BN.
As I go through these locos, doing the stall test, etc, and preparing them for DCC and new lighting, one of the things I do is add new NS wheel set from Athearn, that come with the brass bearing blocks, and gears. I'm getting a large collections of the older "sintered" wheel sets, as I replace with new.
The "newer" (90's BB) I have , do not have this issue.
I just thought I'd throw this out there as a heads up for any one that has an older BB loco, and the trucks seem to jump or make the clunking sound as they move.
mbinsewione of the things I do is add new NS wheel set from Athearn, that come with the brass bearing blocks, and gears.
I have seen these and they look like a great easy upgrade.
Yup! They drop right in. And if your not doing a huge rebuild, just pop off the cover on the bottom of the truck, spread the side frames open a little, remove the old, drop in the new.
EDIT: I do check the gauge first.