Coffee Pot #9 SEPTEMBER 2012 SIX years [April 1 is Anniv.] and going strong and its for all to chat. Plenty of coffee and sweet ice tea for all. Come and join us and chat. GRITS for the Yankees

[laz 57]

HI GUYZ,

   Very humid here and dew point at 75 feels like FLORIDA.  Got 5 mile walk in and 3 mile run done now gotta lift.  Later measure and cut roll roofing to apply maybe tomorrow if all is dry?  Later gotta do food shopping.

PROBE and JOEY D, nope I'm not on SPACEBOOK either.  Why?  Because I don't want anyone knowing everything that I do.  Lots o people are stupid in posting everything that they do pics, parties all that stuff.  And if you don't one of your friends?, will.  Plus lots of lives are ruined by a single post.  Social media?  Social destruction.  Why have we lost so many kids on cyber bullying because of this dump media.  Heck I still don't own a cell phone and probably never will.  Just my .

LV 2089, big train show in ALLENTOWN.  Usually first or second weekend in November at the Allentown Fair grounds.  Very good show lots of stuff there.

Stay frostty,

laz57

[cnw1995]

Aloha!  Beat the rain into work. That's a great way to start the day. A storm blew through our area last night. Not a lot of rain but really cooled things off. Wonder if they'll be more of that today. Great ride on the TARDIS last night with SJ, Brutus, RT and Charlie. I'm an early joiner of Facebook and recommend it highly. It's fun to use to connect with friends.  

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  A humid 81 already in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Leslie ain't a-coming. O's tied with Yankees this AM.  Showwalter should be the AL MVP this year.

88 - She will mimic how you run the trains, so don't worry too much about regulating things.

Hudson - Continued for Mom.

Stay ornery...especially you, blownout.

[rtraincollector]

Lehigh Valley 2089

I may actually use Lionel's Legacy system. I know that you wouldn't be able to run postwar items on a pure Legacy layout, but I do know that Lionel offers an add-on to the system that will let me do this. Also, I have no desire in the world to get Williams items now that Bachmann owns the company. I haven't had a good experience with the company in N scale. I know O gauge is a different world, but I wouldn't expect anything different.

Yes Bachmann has it now but you also must understand all items I don't care who are made overseas now ( exception Lionel doing some freight cars here and weaver does some items here not sure if any are engines)

Now electric railroad (which now is owned by Lionel) has kits to convert engines over to tmcc ( which of coarse legacy will run no problem actually better I'm told ( don't have it yet) but also the TPC-300 and TPC-400 with tmcc or legacy command system already in place will run your conventional trains.

Back to the main part of my comment here I still find original Williams on ebay as just got a set not long ago But also have gotten new stuff and love it I presently got a scale GG-1 for around $170 and added tmcc and rail sounds for like another $145 so for just over $300 I have a command equipped scale GG-1 engine.

Now to me as a whole Bachmann in ho and n were after the low end budget Williams line still has the quality and for regular postwar type freight cars I love there boxcars for my and all and there a lot better made than comparable cars by MTH and Lionel as for durability 1 they have metal frames and die-cast trucks and wheels

Now don't get me wrong I love Lionel to me its the best but most of the time what I want that they have I need to either wait for it to show up on ebay or do without because of the cost I normally wait for it to show up on ebay.

But again as said over and over in here its what makes you happy not everybody is going to like the same thing.

By the way welcome to the forum and enjoy were all here learning and sharing our experiences with each other.

Morning all not a lot planned for today. Back to work tomorrow and work thru the weekend off monday. Time to get some breakfast talk to you all later

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a cloudy and humid 74 degrees. Going up to 88 today with no rain. The sun is suppose to shine this afternoon.

Today is a busy day. I have several errands to run and the usual chores. I will be busy until lunchtime. Not much new on the train subject. Think I'll take a nap later.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Wednesday.

Chuck

 

[Anonymous]

Chief,

          Ask Brent how he feels about HH Gregg.  I bought my current TV there too, and I'll never set foot in one of their stores again.  It's like Radio Shack, but much worse.

Joe,

        I held out and was against FB for several years, then I caved last week.

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

Demay

Probe – I’m still holding out on joining Facebook.  I fear my days of avoiding it may be numbered as many businesses/employers are using it and other social media sites for initial job applications and screenings. 

It's pretty much at a point in history where you either have an account or you are left out on so much. My parents won't let me join because of the risks that come with the site (not that I really care, in fact I really don't want to and will hold out as long as possible).

Fifedog, if I had the oppertunity, I would have mixed it up a LONG time ago when I saw the Mikes Lionel has put out. I also found MTH's Empire State Express passenger train to be tempting, along with 3rd rail's duplex types, the Q1and Q2. After hearing about Overland's HO black diamond loco, I will start seeking that engine.

rrtraincollector, I may actually use Lionel's Legacy system. I know that you wouldn't be able to run postwar items on a pure Legacy layout, but I do know that Lionel offers an add-on to the system that will let me do this. Also, I have no desire in the world to get Williams items now that Bachmann owns the company. I haven't had a good experience with the company in N scale. I know O gauge is a different world, but I wouldn't expect anything different.

[blownout cylinder]

Good morning from Fogville....

Wherein we can haz bus cancellations due to peasoup fog. 100% humidity on 73F feeling like 90F right now...going to 83F feeling like 95F later...we seem stuck in humidland here....

Got some time to go mucking around in Rona's today to see whether I can find some new tools...yes...tools...heeheehee....my workshop needs something in it...

Have a good day!!!

[Demay]

Konnichiwa,

I had a nice five-mile run this morning and a leg workout as well.  My legs were pretty tired afterwards.  The weather is still warm and humid, but it looks like it might rain sometime this afternoon.  I came home from work early today because the two older kids had doctor appointments.  They are routine checkups but I needed to be home to watch the youngest so the wife could take the older two.  I have a BJJ class tonight, but not much else is going on.  The Yankees lost again which resulted in them now being tied for first in their division.  This is not the time of the season to be in such a slump.

Thanks Kev and RT.

SP Ray – Car Talk has its own forum and you can search different problems on it.  I haven’t looked at it for a few years, but it had solid information back then. 

Probe – I’m still holding out on joining Facebook.  I fear my days of avoiding it may be numbered as many businesses/employers are using it and other social media sites for initial job applications and screenings. 

Brent – Those are good times; albeit tiring times. 

John – I’m glad you received good news about your mom.  I’ll keep her in my prayers.

Sayonara,

Joe

[dbaker48]

Good Evening All,

Kev, I think your probably right about the DNC.

John, That is really great news regarding your Mom!  Prayers and wishing well from So. Cal!

Ray, You are so right about the attendance at Knott's!  When it drops its VERY obvious.  Now the whole park is in preparation for Halloween and Haunt.  IF you decide to head down to the Ocean, try South down 605, I am about 7 miles from the ocean, and Arnie's is on the way.

Brent, Walking eh,?  Let's see, you might as well get another set of car keys made, it won't take long and she will be asking!

BWC, Your blog spot seems real interesting, good luck with it. Great news about your energy level, and when I was in Rockford, I thought the humidity had to be the worst in the world.. until I went to Florida.

Chief, I will get those hinges off to you tomorrow.  Don't know why you have so much trouble with MTH, I find it about the same as the others. BTW, how was your trip to Charlotte?

Doug, Sounds like your feeling better, hope so!  I haven't talked to anyone from Angels Gate in 8 or 9 months, last I heard they weren't doing too well.  Hope thngs work out for them.  Don't forget to post some pictures of you Halloween train.

Spent the day at Bob's, we got the framework done on the modules for the table top, (12 sections).  Tomorrow should get them connected and have the overall tabletop put together.  I think it is going to be bigger than he realizes. Hopefully we will have the table top done before the end of the week.

Ran the Goose on my layout awhile this morning, ended up throwing a tire.  So applied the Bullfrog Snot to it this evening, and also got a church building 50% lined so the light won't shine through the walls.  Also, finished the installation of the Miller Engineering Sleigh and Reindeer on one of the houses.  It should bring a lot of comments since we have a 20' long set on our house at Christmas time.

Hope everyone has a great day!  Later

[dougdagrump]

Evenin' All.

Busy, busy since last friday, so today was a computer search day looking for some repair parts and some additions for the club's halloween scene. The Lionel Halloween Trolley came in, sadly they aren't as nice as the MTH two axle trolleys. Graphics and overall appearance are nice but they are very light and they don't have pickup rollers.

Chief, We have that problem with various brand engines on some of our Atlas turnouts/wyes. Kind of un-nerving to see some sparks fly as an engine rolls thru a turnout. A little clear nail poish or thin coat of epoxy can help.

Glad to hear that we be on the mend, prayers continue.

Later all, eyes be gettin' tired.

 

[submmbob]

Hello all

Back at work for a few days. More rain here on the mountain. Looks like we will go back into observation mode in early October.

Got the replacement parts for the K-line beacon. Looks good. Haven't hooked it up yet. Need to hook up the RW for accessories, although all I have at present is a Marx light tower and the K-line beacon

Interesting about the torquing of steering racks. I can see that happening as they are usually just aluminum castings.

Chief - did ya see the O-scale model of the former Charlotte, NC station in the latest CTT? Looks like something that needs to be added to the box....

Time to go find some dinner and then a pillow.

Bob

[ChiefEagles]

Busy day.  Town Board tonight due to holiday. 

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM hhgregg.  TV was bad and would not display anything on the screen.  Made a frying poping noise when powered up.  Called Samsung and they said return it as "spanking brand new" [that is Southern for just bought].  hhgregg said box it back up and bring it to them.  "My gas and time!"  Yes.  NO!  Fred checked hhgregg's ratings on his smart phone.  One star on customer service.  Boxed it up and took it back.  Got credit for the purchase.  Went to Best Buy across the street [where I usually go] and got TV.  Will see if it works tomorrow.  Opted for the LED instead of plasma. 

The hinges will not work with Realtrax.  You have to have over 3/4 of and inch high at pivit point of hinge.  No gap in track with the way I did them.  BTW: found out what was happening crossing from switching yard to bridge leaving the yard.  ONE MTH ENGINE in a lashup is shorting in a switch.  Covered everything with electrical tape and still shorts.  Only that engine.  Lionels do fine and rest of MTH's.  As I said, will post a long one on Mikes Trash House when I get time.

Hope to get to post tomorrow about lease and pond thingy.

Hungry.  Haven't eaten since breakfast.

Sleep tight.    

[jeffrey-wimberly]

It's 83 here with 76% humidity.

*

Time for me to call it a night. Went with my father to a union meeting where he works. Bored me to sleep. afterward we went to KFC for dinner then to the nursing home to see my mother. She looks good but isn't able to do much more than get out of bed to her wheelchair. getting from the chair to the bed is a bit more difficult. I'll be taking her some things in the morning. Some cans of soup, some Sprite Zero, bananas and grapes. After we left there we went to Wal-Mart to do some grocery shopping. Tomorrow I have to go to O'Reilly's to pick up the brake line for my van. Hopefully I'll have it back on the road soon. See y'all tomorrow sometime.

[cnw1995]

On the lookout for you, SJ!

[sir james I]

It's 75 and muggy. We got about an inch of rain this morning. When it comes to toy trains, I say buy what you like. They are yours so you are the only one that needs to be satisfied with your choice's. Banilla will be waiting for the thingy crew...S.J.

[rtraincollector]

Also take a look on ebay at some Williams trains there at a reasonable price and they are conventional you can later if you want add tmcc and rail sounds as I have done to some and even some of my conventional Lionel engines. most of my engines are post war style and about 60% are tmcc I have just recently gotten a few conventional engines in that I haven't converted yet. I need to take some pics. also there is an item if you wish to goto tmcc that will run your conventional trains ( you'll need one for each loop to run them independent of each other) called a tpc theres 2 models 300 watts and 400 watts

[blownout cylinder]

KRM

LV2089,

 Mix it up so you have fun. I had all post war but now I have a mix. I am old but I do not remember steam trains so I have more of the diesel stuff I grew up with. They are toy trains after all and you won't get rich colecting them so just have a good time like RT said.

I'd definitely go with this idea...it is supposed to be a fun hobby!!

Good Evening...

Well, after getting bogged down in my own issues...dang chemo...I am now getting a bit more of my energy back...took a bit of a walk down to Springbank Park and around Byron today....of course, AFTER it got all rainy and miserable in the humidity department...

Oh...this morning?

Miserable humidity..almost 98% humidity with temperatures at 84F...felt like 108F here...yuck.

[KRM]

LV2089,

 Mix it up so you have fun. I had all post war but now I have a mix. I am old but I do not remember steam trains so I have more of the diesel stuff I grew up with. They are toy trains after all and you won't get rich colecting them so just have a good time like RT said.

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

fifedog

LV2089 - Oh, you're a young pup.  Yeah, I expect those engines to be pricey.  If you want to build on your LV collection, start attending the smaller train shows in your region, and make sure you check under the tables as well.  And let your folks know that you are interested, which will help out at Christmas and birthdays.  They'd much rather help your collection along, than to sink another $40-79 dollars on another video game.

Good news, I am actually selling much of what I have of my video games, though I might keep one or two since I had some since I was in preschool. 

Also, they think that $120 is pricey for an early 2025, so I don't have high expectations. 

One more note, my dad says that since I have gathered quite a few postwar items as of late, he says that I may want to just focus on the postwar items, and not pollute the collection with modern era items. BUT LIONEL'S CAMELBACK IS SO TEMPTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........................   .......and is at a lower price than I would have expected. 

There is also supposed to be a train show in Scranton at the end of October and one in Binghamton during the New Year Holiday. 

[rtraincollector]

Evening all not a lot going on today did cut front yard, went to store for wife as she was doing the turkey. I'm a bit tired but guess thats because I've been laying around lol most of the day guess I need to look at the den and see if I can finish down there today or tomorrow at least the the last 4 feet of the wall . The studs are the hardest part of it

Get that done then the flooring and then the molding. then either work on work bench down there ( it will be 6' long) or start the frame work for the layout the work bench sounds more like it as it will help in the building of the frame work.

Hope all had a good day today. Will get back with you all later plan on catching the tardis tonight again.

[KRM]

green97probe

Brent,

          I don't remember the CW-80 having the ability to set a max voltage.  I know that a fixed voltage can be set for the accessory terminals though.  A 1033 has two voltage ranges available, with the lowest maxing at 11 volts.  Would a 1033 work for what you want to run?

Brent,

Just a thought on this.  I have been trying to slow down a accessory that is moving too fast and it was suggested that I get a prewar Lionel rheostat like # 81 or # 95 to slow down the thing. It may work for you as well if you just put it in line behind the transformer and dial it down to where is if she runs it to full power the the train will only be getting what you want it to get.

P.S. I am biding on one now on the Bay so please don't out bid me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360483987126?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This is not the one I am bidding because I only want one and RT will bid on it to just mess with me.

[Anonymous]

Ray,

          No, what I meant was to turn the wheel all the way in both directions.

[SPMan]

Kev, I have been driving the car for some time and it might be losening up a bit.  Too early to tell for sure but maybe your idea of over torque might be right if more driving will wear it in.

Jim, by power steering lock, do you mean "steering wheel lock"?  I think you have to shut the engine off to do that.

Ray

[KRM]

lionroar88

Afternoon fellas

All I can say is WOW!

I knew when Christina started walking things would change, but I didn't realize how much! She LOVES to walk - ALL    THE    TIME! She's been going up stairs like she has been doing it for months!  

 

From carpet crawler to rugrat . Look out now Brent. The fun is just starting.

 Our granddaughter will be two on Saturday and is she a handfull.

 

[Anonymous]

Brent,

          I don't remember the CW-80 having the ability to set a max voltage.  I know that a fixed voltage can be set for the accessory terminals though.  A 1033 has two voltage ranges available, with the lowest maxing at 11 volts.  Would a 1033 work for what you want to run?

[Anonymous]

Afternoon fellas

All I can say is WOW!

I knew when Christina started walking things would change, but I didn't realize how much! She LOVES to walk - ALL    THE    TIME! She's been going up stairs like she has been doing it for months! Oh, and over the weekend she discovered POCKETS! Yes pockets are SOOOO exciting! When you put things in them they disappear! And when you look inside the pocket the object you put in there is miraculously there again, and you can take the object out of the pocket! This morning she even checked my shirt pocket to see if anything was in it... hmmm... this could be a fun game to play with her!

I am definitely going to be building a track under the tree this year, my one question is has anyone used the MAX voltage setting on the CW-80? I would like to let her 'run' the trains, but only up to a save voltage - I really think she would like this.

[Anonymous]

Ray,

         Sounds like there might be air trapped in the power steering system.  I had the same problem after I replaced power steeing lines on the 91 Probe.  Here's how I fixed that issue:

1.  WIth the engine running, remove the cap on the power steering fluid reservoir. 

2.  Turn the steering wheel lock to lock as many times as needed to force air out of the system.  Keep an eye on the fluid level throughout the porcess and top off as needed.

The steering should become much easier and smoother.

 

Not much going on today.  Found that the Mustang's throttle hanging issue was a result of my overtightening a clamp on the air intake and permanently distorting the tube.  So, I've decided to upgrade to the cold air intake that was factory installed on the 2008-09 Mustang Bullitt.  Running the stock intake and tune until it arrives.

Ran some of the MTH collection yesterday, which I need to do more often.

Got pulled into Facebook late last week.  Never saw that coming.

[KRM]

SPMan

 

Jeffrey, I like Car Talk too.  Sorry they are not making any new ones.  I wonder if they ever made one about my stiffness in my steering following rack and pinion work.  Would sure love to hear what they say but I doubt you have any way of indexing things like that from your collection of shows.

  

 SPRay 

I have seen times where when a rack has been replaced that if it is torqued down too tight or the mounting surfaces are not just right it will bind up the steering. The racks have tight tolerances and will bind if there is the slightest error in the assembly process. The easiest way to check it is to loosen the rack mounting bolts to just snug and see if the bind goes away. If it does than you may need to Torque it to the right spec or shim it or grind some of the surface to make it fit the frame square. You can also just drive it till it wears in some. Most of the time it has been overtorqued and a re-torque to the proper torque will do the trick.

 Just a thought. 

[RockIsland52]

Greetings Y'all From Rainy Taxachusetts,

We had a gorgeous weekend, and the rains held off until this morning.  Now we get two days of the soakers with high 60s and the lawn says thank you.  The weekend was so busy, too busy.  The wife and I were glad our calendar had nothing on the agenda for yesterday, allowing me to sneak in a nap before it was last call for the dog and then off to bed last night.  Naps ARE NOT over-rated.

HudsonJohn......that was some great news on your Mom.  Prayers continue.  

Brutus......hope your Mom is doing OK.  Prayers for her also continue.

Blownout......hope you are starting to put on a few pounds.  You are making the rest of us look rotund.

RaySP........won't that ash mar the finish on your car?  I have a car cover, just in case.

V8......you mentioned the advantages of living in a hightly populated area.  That is true.  I suppose many of us eventually get our fill of it after a while and find ourselves driving somewhere that has few or no buildings and far more wildlife than people.  Nature has a way of de-stressing me.

DonB.......the Chief DOES listen.  He just doesn't hear too well.  

Gotta run.  Later, gang.

Jack