I should just call the sorce but its a holiday and I'm the impatient type
While trying to to do some feeder installs on my layout ,after sitting idle for the summer ,I came to a bridge/swing up area and got confused and impatient on polarity identification @ the swing-up rail gap creating a SHORT . I was using my very smooth running Walther's E-7 (newer run) for for testing and noted a short at the gap @ swing-up ....now here's where it gets ugly, since I was just getting to those feeders (after layout sat all summer) my fault /circuit protection was spotty in this area due to failing rail connectors and while debugging I left the E-7 with one axel setting on the GAP while I scratched my head muttering "if its a short the circuit protection in my digitrax unit should be BEEPING ! " not long into this process, SMOKE began to RISE , being a smart man I noted the smoke right away, BUT continued to mutter "if its a short the digitrax fault protector should be BEEPING ?"
So now I have a very nice sounding/running E-7 with a completely MELTED front axel of the front truck in need of a complete replacement truck , how the decoder/motor was not affected is a miracle to me?
Soooooo , would one think that a replacement truck complete with gears/axles/side frames for a newer run E unit be a STOCK item AT Walther's ?
sorry for such a long rant for a short question ...Jerry
PS: please note the importance of a QUARTER test here
It might be, but maybe not. Nowadays, units are typically produced complete and spare parts often are available only when stripped from failed units returned by consumers.
You'll also want to check on what production run the loco is question was a part of. IIRC, Walthers updated the latest runs of the E units, so could possibly have made changes from the original LifeLike/P2K version.
BTW, when the truck was melting, all the current was shorted through it, which is why the decoder didn't fry.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
thanks Mike ,it is the newer walthers run that I believe started with the Milwaukee road brown /yellow scheme , I have an older E unit and the trucks are different than these ...Jerry
Jerry,
Cool, got that parts identification thing pinned down at least.
If Walthers doesn't have parts stock, then checking ebay may turn up a loco that has issues, but also a bunch of good parts you can get for less than what buying one or two new parts would cost. Lots of time, it's some sort of electrical issue that sends it to the deadline, but usually something like a truck should be intact.
Do you need just the axel or the whole truck. Walthers or Athearn have replacements for the axel.
from the looks of it the front of the gear case has melted around the front axel , but I havent taken it completely apart yet ....Jerry I shall call walthers weds or thurs morn....... Jerry
well the good news is they do have the entire truck w/gears & wheels & sideframes 20.00 . so we are at closure ,thanks for input ..Jerry