Quality craftsman needed to re-power brass engine.

[mikebonellisr]

I have a Sunset,Samagosa,NYC Pacific in HO and I am in search of a master mechanic to install a good can motor and adjust the running gear for improved performance.It does not have good slow speed running and has a growling noise when running foward,but not when it is in reverse.The pilot wheels keep comming off the track on #6 turnouts and 24" radius curves{I checked and they are in guage}It's a beautiful model with a nice weathered paint job and I would like to get it to run as well as it looks.I don't have the skill or the time to do a good job.Could anyone recommend somebody,or a shop that has done good work of this type?

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

I have a Sunset,Samagosa,NYC Pacific in HO and I am in search of a master mechanic to install a good can motor and adjust the running gear for improved performance.It does not have good slow speed running and has a growling noise when running foward,but not when it is in reverse.The pilot wheels keep comming off the track on #6 turnouts and 24" radius curves{I checked and they are in guage}It's a beautiful model with a nice weathered paint job and I would like to get it to run as well as it looks.I don't have the skill or the time to do a good job.Could anyone recommend somebody,or a shop that has donegood work of this type?

I'm not recommending this guy because all I know is his website, but you might be able to get referrals; http://members.aol.com/backshop/intro.html

Andre

[Anonymous]

Mike,

I'm not sure how far you'd be willing to travel (or ship your loco), but Peach Creek Shops in Laurel, MD has been in the business of repairing brass locomotives for at least 10 years.
http://peachcreekshops.com

[Anonymous]

David Long in Boise Mt. has done some work for me and several of my friends. We are very pleased with the job that he has done. He used to work for NWSL as their repair superviser. I know of several locos that he has re-motored. Brass is his specialty.

He occasionally advertises in the back of MR. the name of his business is Kelly Creek Backshop.

His e-mail is [e-mail]

Bob

[Anonymous]

Here is another shop in Massachusetts, you can send him an E-mail and he can give you a ball-park on the repair costs.

http://www.bcenterpriseinc.com/brass.htm

Rick

[mikebonellisr]

Thanks All.
As a bonus I also found a NYC B11 that I wanted.Makes my day!

[Don Gibson]

YOU WANT a remotor and regearing. Check the ads in back section MR.
Like any 'craftsmen' you hire, beware of the 'cheapies'. The pros spend more time and are know what their time is worth..

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

I have a Sunset,Samagosa,NYC Pacific in HO and I am in search of a master mechanic to install a good can motor and adjust the running gear for improved performance.It does not have good slow speed running and has a growling noise when running foward,but not when it is in reverse.The pilot wheels keep comming off the track on #6 turnouts and 24" radius curves{I checked and they are in guage}It's a beautiful model with a nice weathered paint job and I would like to get it to run as well as it looks.I don't have the skill or the time to do a good job.Could anyone recommend somebody,or a shop that has donegood work of this type?

Mike, this is a followup to my post. I believe the Samhongsa engine would already be equipped with a can motor. It sounds like you have a bind in the mechanisme somewhere. It could be that the motor shaft is out of alignment with the worm shaft and/or that there needs to be a thrust washer at the front of the worm shaft inside the gearbox. Also, has it been lubed? Last month, I took my Westside SP GS-8 out of the box after 10 years of idleness and applied power. It howled like a banshee. A little oil on the motor shaft and some molybdenum grease in the gearbox quieted it right down.

Since you say the lead truck wheels are in gauge, it could be that the spring is weak and/or that there's insufficient swing for the truck on 24" curves (although it should take a #6 turnout just fine). How freely does the truck swing and what kind of pressure does the spring make against the truck frame?

Just my [2c] for what it's worth.

Which ain't much now that I think about it. [:D]

Andre

[mikebonellisr]

Andre
I cleaned all the working parts,re lubed it and that did'nt improve the running.The drive shaft seems to be in alignment.The pilot truck is another problem-somewhere along the line,the spring was removed and a small square of sponge rubber was used as a replacement that may have a lot to do with the bad tracking.I'm going to fiddle with it a little longer before I put any money into it.If/when I get it running right I would like to put in Tsunami sound---It's a nice looking engine but useless as it is now

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

Andre
I cleaned all the working parts,re lubed it and that did'nt improve the running.The drive shaft seems to be in alignment.The pilot truck is another problem-somewhere along the line,the spring was removed and a small square of sponge rubber was used as a replacement that may have a lot to do with the bad tracking.I'm going to fiddle with it a little longer before I put any money into it.If/when I get it running right I would like to put in Tsunami sound---It's a nice looking engine but useless as it is now

A square of sponge rubber? Wouldn't surprise me if that's catching on something and preventing the pilot truck from swinging freely on curves and turnouts. As for the bad drive, I don't know what else to say since I can't see the locomotive.

Here's a question I should have asked earlier. Who was the importer? I do know that ALCO models imported an NYC 4-6-2 (K-3q, I think) that had a really crappy drive. One modeler even went so far as to replace the chassis with a Bowser. However, if it's a Sunset, I don't recall ever hearing that there were problems with it.

Andre