[Rocky Mountian]

I have a passenger train it has 3 engines onty to have motors. I was looking at the one that does'nt and it looks like I could put a motor in it. It looks like gear box comes a part and maybe some kit could be put in.
I will have some track soon and a transformer and so just messing with the engines also have a freighter that does'nt have a motor eather.
Can I put motors in these and where the best place to get them.
The front and center have motors.
Cheers
Mike

 

[full maxx]

I would try the manufacturer or find out as much about the other two motors as possible...make sure they are the same or the third will be slower of faster than the other two... which would be bad

 

[Rocky Mountian]

 

[Rocky Mountian]

Maybe this is better.

 

[Rocky Mountian]

full maxx
I have looked to see for sure what these are the box is a Proto but might just be the boxs you buy to store them. I don't know there is nothing on the engine its self.

 

[Rocky Mountian]

Why only 2 motors and can you run 3 at a time?

 

[Rocky Mountian]

Near as I can tell they are Athern and I found some motors but no way of knowing if it would run the same speed.

 

[stationmaster]

What the picture shows is an Athearn, hardwired by some owner. Not two motors but two brass flywheels. Sound engines, almost bullet-proof. The staple of the hobby since Moses was a pup. Quality is high/middle of the road. But, like Timex, they take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

Gear and motor kits are available from Athearn and NWSL. They can be found on eBay pretty regularly. What you have is a (2)PA1's and a PB1 Alco's. These engines a arguably one of the most elegant ever built for passenger service.

Bob

 

[Rocky Mountian]

Thanks stationmaster I have been looking all morning and afternoon and what I ment by 2 motors is that 2 out of the 3 engines have motors.
Found a dealer near by he said I could bring them down and he would run them and see what shap there in. They look almost new to me.I don't have track or trans. YET
Thanks again
Mike

 

[stationmaster]

I have a couple of sets of Athearn PA/PbB units, though all of mine are powered tagged PRR and NYC. I have added details like PRR's distinguishing antenna. List of details include grab irons, metal ladders, in lieu of the plastic ones, sin shades, windshield wipers, crew and cab details, and repowered all as they must have gone through a lightning strike as none worked when I got them. Commutators and brushes were blown to bits.

I would recommend a cleaning and lube job no matter what. A somewhat tedious task but well worth the effort. And start a regular schedule for your trains to keep them tuned up. I lube about 10-12 engines a week.

Bob

 

[full maxx]

10-12 a week...how many do you have... no I'm sure you work at a hobby shop or the like, I was told to lube and oil once a year or so is this the case

 

[Rocky Mountian]

I was looking on ebay man a ton of Athearn and I found a motor with shafts and worm gear.
What kind of lube I'm thinking something light sewing machine maybe?

 

[Rocky Mountian]

When I looked at my brothers trains I grab 2 boxs to bring home to see what they were worth and now I'm bibing on ebay for parts.

Anybody know a good brain surgeon?

 

[stationmaster]

I have around 400 engines, and over 3500 cars. My layout is in the neighborhood of 1400 feet, and still growing, though not at as great a rate as when I started. I see a scene I'd like to model and I'll build a few modules that show it. And I've been at this for 50 years. The collecting just happened as a part of the hobby. Didn't really consider myself a collector until one of the members of our old train club made the statement. And my "collection" of engines are kept to run, though a few classics have been relegated to "shelf queens" for display of famous trains.

I inherited my Dad's set and the set of a friend. I've bought 4 groups of trains when old buddies passed away. Didn't take much to get to where I'm at today. The bulk of my stock, I've gotten in the past 10 years or so.

Bob

 

[Rocky Mountian]

Stationmaster
I've never had 3900 of anything. I think you win!

 

[Rocky Mountian]

Stationmaster what kind of lube should I use.

 

[stationmaster]

RM, I use Hoppes. I've got guns so the lube for them does double duty.

A light machine oil, sewing machine oil and such, and I use a teflon based grease. Some use a lithium based grease though I have never tried it. You need to be careful as some lubricants, being petroleum based, are mighty tough on plastic.

You could use vegetable oil if you don't mind the smell of french fries when running your trains. j/k. lol

Bob

 

[Rocky Mountian]

Thanks stationmaster
I wiil look at my gun cleaning kit see what I have.

mike

 

[Rocky Mountian]

stationmaster
I got a motor for that engine and some power trucks on ebay( go figger) but the driveshafts are to short. It said hex drive F7. I need to know what I did wrong I thought F7 was the style of the locomotive?

 

[stationmaster]

Never heard of an F7 being anything other than an engine. Or an f-stop for a film camera. I'll check in the "Stuff Box" to see if I have any of the longer driveshafts. Don't know that I do, but if I do, they are yours. I may also have some "extension couplings" that mount to the ends of the driveshaft at the motor or on the truck tower, you may be able to use these also, and get by using shorter driveshafts. If I find anything I'll PM you for your address and send whatever I find for you to use.

I had to do a similar project when I re-motored a couple of my DD40's and my DD35's(slugs). I ended up using extensions as I couldn't find driveshafts long enough. You may be able to use the driveshafts from a GP30, GP35, or GP40 also. Never tried, but being a two-axle truck, with engines of similar lengths, it may be possible. Like I said, I've never tried.

Measure, somehow, what you have, and what you need to give an idea of the length I'm looking to find.

Do you need the hex shafts(like on the Atlas and Atlas/Roco models) or the "ball and T" type(like on many Athrean engines)?

Bob