More turd polishing... repowering a Bachmann Metroliner.

[wm3798]

Tonight's project involved digging through the parts bins to see I could come up with a way to smooth out the rough edges of my Metroliner.
I had picked up another drive a while ago, and decided I could risk experimenting on it.

Here's where I am with it so far.


I believe the motor came from an old Atlas Kato RS3 drive, but I'm not 100 percent sure.
But front to back it fits like a glove.

I had to Dremel out the old braces that held the original motor, and it looks like I'll have to shorten the drive shafts a bit, but I will now have two flywheel, and a direct in line drive instead of those stupid cup gears.

I should have it back together tomorrow for a test drive.

If it works, it almost guarantees that the Bach Man will announce a new release just in time for Christmas!

All the best,
Lee

[Doug G.]

I would use Turtle Wax or Blue Coral.



Doug

[Dave V]

[Point353]

Tonight's project involved digging through the parts bins to see I could come up with a way to smooth out the rough edges of my Metroliner.

Looking forward to seeing if the end result is a success.
I have an Amtrak one from which the 'magic smoke' has escaped.
Apparently, it's outlived the Bachmann "lifetime warranty".

[nkalanaga]

Maybe not.  Did they ever specify "lifetime of WHAT?"  If it's the lifetime of the product, then they're safe.

Yes, I'm rather cynical about corporate promises.

And for "polishing the turd", we have one of these.  Ours is actually from a moose, not a horse, and is the genuine Montana version.  Apparently they were made for multiple states, but Montana was the only place we saw them.

http://rememberingdale.blogspot.com/2010/11/turd-bird.html

[peteski]

And for "polishing the turd", we have one of these.  Ours is actually from a moose, not a horse, and is the genuine Montana version.  Apparently they were made for multiple states, but Montana was the only place we saw them.

But that turd is not polished! It actually looks like someone hit it with Dullcote.   But it is very cute! 

[Steveruger45]

I bet it tickled on the way out.

[randgust]

It seems ironic that Bachmann would put the additional cup reduction gears in something that actually ran at 125mph.

[wm3798]

The alignment of the drive shafts required it when they were using the big boxy motor.  The geared motor shaft sat about 4-5 mm higher than the drive line.  It was probably the shortest fix to get from point A to point B.
This motor nests down right in line with the drive line, and there's enough air under it to do the modified pick ups I needed.

I'll take some detail pictures of the process as I put it back together.

Not ironically, I had posted an inquiry on the Bach Man forum, then updated it with a picture of my re-power... mentioning Atlas by name... so it got taken down!  Touchy touchy!

Lee

[wm3798]

Okay, so taking a break from it now.  I've got everything really close, but the old drive components are just what they are.  I need to put a little more slop in the line to relieve some tension because the motor isn't turning comfortably even with the trucks off.  I'm also going to "beardenize" the bearing blocks by opening them up for some more vertical clearance to provide for the not quite perfect vertical alignment.
I need to put some Loctite on the nubs ...  All that test fitting has gotten them a little loose.
Then I need to tear down the trucks and clean them thoroughly and reassemble and lube them.

I've got the pick up issues solved, I have a clear path to installing a new LED headlight, and I'm close enough on the vertical clearance that a little more grinding of the "lid" should get everything to seat properly and not pinch anything with the shell on.

But now I have to make a living to support my habit...  So I'll check in probably over the next couple of days.

Lee

[dem34]

Wonder how many people did what I did and just removed half the gearing. Not some crazy science, cup gear was demolished somehow and removing it made the thing run 10 minutes after I bought it dead. Wonder if the seller saw it running on Jersey Central's loop.

[wm3798]

I assume you pulled the gears from the truck as well... or replaced it with dummy wheelsets...  I can't imagine dragging one of those old Bmann trucks around without doing something...

I may try that on the other drive I'm fighting with. 

Reducing it to one set of drivers makes sense... the dummies are light and roll pretty well, and the power frame weighs a million pounds and could pull a 200 car train by itself as long as the drive was decent...

Lee

[dem34]

I assume you pulled the gears from the truck as well... or replaced it with dummy wheelsets...  I can't imagine dragging one of those old Bmann trucks around without doing something...

I may try that on the other drive I'm fighting with.

Lee

Nah, I don't know if it's luck of the draw or what but the truck still has it's own gearing it's just no longer connected to anything, but it is smooth as silk somehow.

[dougnelson]

Breatlessly awaiting the video. 

And if the remotoring is not successful, you can use it as a cab car for a Keystone Service train.  Apparently, Amtrak gave up trying to remotor theirs.

[wm3798]

I have a pile of dummies I can do that with!
Lee