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slimrails
Moderator
   
USA
8524 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2019 : 12:30:58 PM
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Congrats, Andre! [:-thumbu] I've been following this project from the start and I'm amazed at how you've engineered these locos from scratch. |
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2019 : 12:44:49 PM
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Andre, Bernd, Mike and a little confused Russ(you must be my age), Thank you!!! I really appreciate the support. It warms my heart. Keep watching, after #7 get her decoder I'll be able to focus on the cosmetics and things should progress quickly.
Bob |
It's only make-believe
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2019 : 8:46:56 PM
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Hi, I'm taking a little break from the workbench for dinner and to straighten my back. I got the decoder into #7's tender. It's a very tight fit. maybe I should of took a picture of how tight the components are, but I didn't. Sorry I just wanted to get this done. I'm using tenders made by United for PFM for use with their model of the V&T #11 Reno. I got them used off of Ebay. They both have needed work. One of them I had to strip the paint off of (I did that years ago) and repair both of them (which I'm doing now as I add the decoder). Just minor stuff. Solder clean up, truck screw replaced but one had a weird problem (strange it was the better looking of the two tenders). One of the insulated wheels had a rim that was not fully pressed onto the insulation hub, The rim made contact with the truck frame causing a short. Just took me about an hour to find this. The fix was about 3 minutes with about 10 minutes to re-assemble the truck. Hopefully Video of a running #7 will be posted later.
Bob |
It's only make-believe
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slimrails
Moderator
   
USA
8524 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2019 : 09:36:41 AM
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Sorry about the name confusion, Bob. I didn't have enough coffee. Or it could be my age.  |
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2019 : 7:52:31 PM
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Don;t worry about it Russ.
I had a short develop in one of the engines. a wire came loose. but it gave me an oppertunity to take a picture of how everything fits into the tender.

Here's a video of #7 learning to walk. she still a little ruff going backwards but is getting better. https://youtu.be/5tLWZQL1YNQ
And here they have learned their names; https://youtu.be/6sITkmkOt9E
enjoy guys
Bob
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It's only make-believe
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
  
873 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2019 : 9:25:55 PM
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They're alive! They're Alive!! THEY'RE ALIVE!!!
The hitch appears to be emphasized when it's reversing around the curve. Perhaps the U-joint bar is bottoming in the sockets and thus not able to "float"? There should be a small amount of play in the U-joint bar at all times, even when reversing on the tightest curve.
Andre |
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Bernd
Fireman
   
USA
3894 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2019 : 08:34:46 AM
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Bob,
You sure stuffed that five pound bag with more than five pounds of stuff. Great to have seen this project from start to this point. I do wonder if that "sort" of step angle of the drive shaft makes the engine run a bit rough. To bad it couldn't be made straighter.
Bernd |
New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds |
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2019 : 12:36:02 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Bernd
Bob,
You sure stuffed that five pound bag with more than five pounds of stuff. Great to have seen this project from start to this point. I do wonder if that "sort" of step angle of the drive shaft makes the engine run a bit rough. To bad it couldn't be made straighter.
Bernd
Yes, stuffed like a dinner turkey. While the Angle isn't idea it seems to be working. both engines are laid out the same. only one is ruff in reverse only. Others are saying that the drive staff is a bit too long. As I'm sure your aware the gearbox shifts position a little bit when you change direction. It might not have enough room in the "cup" in reverse. I have to check it out.
I really appreciate your comments. Thank you very much for sharing them.
Bob |
It's only make-believe
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2019 : 1:42:57 PM
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I’m impressed.
I guess if there’s a problem it’s better if it’s running backwards; the opposite seems to be the norm sometimes.
Mike |
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Bernd
Fireman
   
USA
3894 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2019 : 2:02:45 PM
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quote: Originally posted by railman28
quote: Originally posted by Bernd
Bob,
You sure stuffed that five pound bag with more than five pounds of stuff. Great to have seen this project from start to this point. I do wonder if that "sort" of step angle of the drive shaft makes the engine run a bit rough. To bad it couldn't be made straighter.
Bernd
Yes, stuffed like a dinner turkey. While the Angle isn't idea it seems to be working. both engines are laid out the same. only one is ruff in reverse only. Others are saying that the drive staff is a bit too long. As I'm sure your aware the gearbox shifts position a little bit when you change direction. It might not have enough room in the "cup" in reverse. I have to check it out.
I really appreciate your comments. Thank you very much for sharing them.
Bob
Bob,
Just for giggles do you have any tubing (silicone model airplane fuel tubing) to try out in place of the drive shaft? It would be interesting to see if it would make any difference in running.
I also went back and found a good picture of the gearbox and firebox area. I wanted to see if it would be possible to mount a motor in the firebox. It doesn't look like it would be possible. I think what would be ideal is if there was a motor with a reduction gear box mounted on the motor and then a worm wheel to the worm gear. Just some thoughts on drive trains as I prepare for the brass engine kit I'm going to work on.
Bernd |
New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds |
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Frank Palmer
Fireman
   
USA
6080 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2019 : 2:42:30 PM
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Nifty little package. |
Frank |
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2019 : 3:08:29 PM
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Mike, I agree. I do little switching. Yea I know That's not PC for many. Bernd, I used tubing a lot back in the day. I'm sure it would be a total fail. On the Cab motor; I considered it seriously. The motor would have to be smaller. The smaller motor would have higher (a lot) RPM and less(also A lot) torque. I would loss about 1/2 my weight on the back driver. just a no win all the way around. If I could I would get the angle out. Frank, Thank you. |
It's only make-believe
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2019 : 7:47:25 PM
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Well a step back but still going Forward. Maybe I tried to do too much too quickly but my success was short lived as the decoders started to short out with fatal consequences for the decoders. One of the problem was the additional electrical pickups on the tender and engine. I used .008 wire which bent too easily to stay in place. Talking to Soundtraxx about my problems they felt that the motors might be drawing too many amps because they were working too hard and damaging the decoders. I don't think that's the case but I can't prove it because I don't have an amp meter(one is on the way). Soooo, to move forward, I rewired the engines for traditional DC running and started running them. With the running they are getting broken in are running much better. #7 is reversing a lot better. After about a half hour on pure DC I started to use pulse and the slow speed running of both engines was smoother. I won't run them on pulse much as I believe its harmful for can motors. Do you want more videos? I also played with the LED bulb and resistors and figured out how to set them up.
Bob
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It's only make-believe
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OK Hogger
Crew Chief
  
873 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2019 : 8:40:46 PM
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Well that sucks about the decoders. I can't imagine those small can motors drawing enough amps to damage a decoder, even if stalled.
Perhaps a hot short brought about by the closed circuit making contact with the brass somewhere?
Andre |
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deemery
Fireman
   
USA
8742 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2019 : 3:27:52 PM
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I'd be a bit worried about decoders that burned out from 'too much load'. I wonder if Andre's idea about an intermittent short is more likely.
Still, this has been great thread, even when things go badly and Magic Smoke (tm) leaks out of decoders :-(
dave |
Modeling 1890s (because the voices in my head told me to) |
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