Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Atlas HO Classic RS-1/3 Parts Swap

3012 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, February 29, 2020 7:02 AM

Kev,While not a Atlas swap I once put a BB U30C drive in a dummy trainmaster..  A lot of kimchi rigging was envolved but,it turned out nice and a smooth runner-well for a BB anyway..

I think you would be better off to find a donation RS3.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, February 29, 2020 6:48 AM

I was thinking that, just because the part numbers between the two don't match, that doesn't mean the one part won't fit in another.

If you have all the parts, I'd give it try.  

Good luck!

Mike.

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 65 posts
Posted by GP025 on Saturday, February 29, 2020 12:33 AM

I was wanting to swap as I have a good running rs3 in the wrong road name and a good shell and frame (rs1) in the proper road.  I am more partial to the rs1's, just like the boxier look I guess. So hence the question. 

If they don't swap easy, I'll just locate a doner (sp?) engine. 

I love my F's and geeps too, but gotta have some variety, other wise the wife says that they all look the same!

Kev 

 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, February 27, 2020 7:55 PM

Alco 4 lyfe! Laugh

They are made differently - the RS-1 uses the frame as the walkways and end steps, the RS-3 has a separate plastic piece that fits over the frame.

                                        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, February 27, 2020 3:44 PM

OK than!  The different truck assembly numbers, gear assembly numbers, etc., etc., through me off. I wouldn't think the same part used on other locos would be given different numbers.

Maybe the Op can make it work.

I've never owned one, just looking at parts diagram.  Besides.....I'm an EMD guy...Laugh

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, February 27, 2020 3:28 PM

 Trucks face the same way in all of them, that assembled truck above the warranty text in the RS3 diagram is not the front truck. Worms are on the far ends, away fromt he motor, in both. 

 Motors fit because I used a motor from the RSD-4/5/6 in an RS3, or maybe it was the other way around, one had a bad motor, some of the glue for the commutator segments had dropped on the segment itself. With nothing to lose after that, I took the removed bad motor apart and managed to clean it off and make it run.

The two locos aren't identical, but enough of it can be swapped around. Not sure why you woudl want to swap ALL of it - if you have a bad truck, swap a truck, if you have a bad motor, swap the motor, a broken universal, swap that. No need to swap all the guts. 

                                       --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, February 27, 2020 2:43 PM

I see different numbers between the two on a lot of the parts, truck assemblies, gear assemblies, direction the trucks face, side frames, and on and on.

Mike.

PS.  Unless I'm totally reading those parts diagrams wrong.  I've never owned an RS 1 or 3 and I've never taken one apart.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, February 27, 2020 1:06 PM

 Only thing different is the truck sideframes. Motor, universals, even the gear sets, are all identical No reason this wouldn't work to swap parts around. 

 Perhaps it might even be prototypical in a rare case to have an RS-3 running around on RS-1 trucks.

                                      --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 65 posts
Posted by GP025 on Thursday, February 27, 2020 1:01 PM

Thanks Mike, that was the first place I looked, but did notice a slight variation in part numbers. Was just wondering if anyone had done this before. 

 Kev

  

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, February 27, 2020 11:58 AM

Check out these parts pages from the RS1 and the RS3, latest versions.  It looks like some parts have different numbers, such as the trucks.

RS1:

https://hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionAtlas/Assembly%20Explosion%20Atlas%20RS1%20version%202.jpg

RS3:

https://hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionAtlas/Assembly%20Explosion%20Atlas%20RS3%20version%202.jpg

See what you think.

Mike.

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 65 posts
Atlas HO Classic RS-1/3 Parts Swap
Posted by GP025 on Thursday, February 27, 2020 11:37 AM

Afternoon All,

Quick question- Can I swap motor/drivetrain/and trucks from an rs3 to an rs1 without issue?

Thanks 

Kev

 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!