Hello,
I apologize for the ignorance (I have been modeling HO for sometime now), but I have noticed for the first time in my recent Walther's Flyer statements about their GP-15 that it has "14:1 gear ratio for easy multiple-unit operations." I have noticed that some other Proto locomotives in the Flyer state they have the 14:1 gear ratio, but not all.
Is this stating that if you ran two Proto 1000 GP-15's together in DC they would work well without risking damaging the units? I ask because several years ago I ran two Proto 2000 GP-38 together for a while and one had its gears ruined.
Are other brands rated at 14:1 ratio? If so, what ones? Is there a benefit to the 14:1 ratio?
Thank you in advance for the information.
I suspect what they're getting at is that the new version of the GP-15 has an improved gearing that allows the engine to run slower so that it is closer in speed to other "quality" engines. The original engine was I think more of a train-set grade engine so probably had a cheaper motor and gearing and ran faster at a given voltage than say an Atlas engine.
In my experience Proto/Life-Like engines can vary greatly in their speeds on DC, even two versions of the same engine. That may be what happened with yours. When running two or more engines together, the closer they are in speed the easier it is on the engines. If one engine runs faster than another you can slow it down by using resistors...although the 'final solution' to those issues is DCC.
I fully know what you mean by the Proto engines varying greatly! I never had a problem with my Atlas locomotives running together! After my bad experience with Proto 2000 gp-38's I think I will avoid any further purchasing of Protos.
thanks for the information.
Stix,Actually the old Walthers GP15 is a smooth slow runner that is on par with the old SW1 and FM10-44..Its not a bad locomotive once a modeler overlooks the detail flaws.
The 14:1 gear ratio is the industries standard that Life Like choose not to follow and used their "Gear ratio of the month" to gear their engines..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
At one point, Life-Like seemed to use a different gear ratio in each new release. One of the first thing Walthers did when they bought Life-Like was to start standardizing on a common gear ratio in their P1K & P2K lines of diesel engines. This makes MU operation much smoother(for DCC as well).
Your GP38 issues was probably the 'split' gear issue that a lot of 4 axle P2K GP's suffered with through the years. Life-Like and Walther have been good about replacing them. The Athearn gears are a direct replacement as well. The problem appears to be due to very tight tolerances with the gear/axle, where the gear is too tight on the metal axle. I have had 'new in the box' GP9's with the problem, so it is not an 'operation' issue. IIRC, most of the the Kato & Atlas stuff is similar. The current Athearn/Genesis I have not counted.....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
skerberAfter my bad experience with Proto 2000 gp-38's I think I will avoid any further purchasing of Protos.
You'll want to knock Atheran Genesis F7's off your list as well.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
I have two switchers with 48:1 gear ratios......talk about crawl!
davidmbedard Mismatched gear ratios is why God created DCC. David B
Mismatched gear ratios is why God created DCC.
David B
Cure all woes with DCC..
Actually LL should have use the 14:1 like everybody else including Tyco!
DCC still has some inherited problems.