Atlas SD 35 coupler height

[peteski]

In  my experience, components like capacitors get smaller as the time progresses. Manufacturers find ways to make them more compact.  But also different manufacturers might have slight size differences for a capacitor with the identical electrical ratings, so it might be possible that ESU's parts supplier switched brands they use.

[spookshow]

Speculation: the difference between from your previous evaluation is due to the version of loksound decoder - pre 2020 vs post 2020, which might have bigger caps.

What sort of bit did you use in the dremel?

Since some of the components are different colors between 2018 and 2025, it's certainly possible that the sizes changed as well. Unfortunately, I sold off my original first gen sound unit long ago, so I can't do a side-by-side comparison. And although I'm kind of tempted to track down another one in order to perform said comparison, I think I've wasted enough money on these already.

I used one of Dremel's small/tapered grinding stone attachments on the shell, but I would not recommend it. You can hack away at the middle of the shell pretty good, but the edges are unreachable. I think going with shimmed MTL 1015's is the simpler solution -



Actually, calling out Atlas's gaffe by boycotting these models entirely is probably the best solution. These sorts of lazy / easily avoidable manufacturing screw-ups really tick me off 

-Mark

[NtheBasement]

I reviewed the loco after receiving an e-mail from Lombard asking me to do so.  Oddly, more than a week later the loco still has zero reviews! https://lombardhobby.com/atlas-master-gold-series-n-40005771-dcc-esu-loksound-v5-equipped-emd-sd-35-locomotive-baltimore-ohio-b-o-7419/

Just back from a bike trip, not sure what I'll try next.  Might try dremelling.

[NtheBasement]

Thanks everyone, you gave me enough confidence to do surgery.  I used a small dental bit to avoid out of control chatter from torque.  That left a very rough surface - can't position the bit straight on because then I can't see - which I smoothed using a curved file.
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I went slow and did a lot of iterations, checking the coupler height each round.  After a while I didn't need the modeling clay anymore, you could tell just by where the seesaw fulcrum was that the remaining obstruction was between the stack and the first fan.  I ended up going too far and holed the shell, but the holes are tiny and not very noticeable.  In the process I broke off what I assume are sand chutes and bent the horns.
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The rear coupler is still high and the front is worse, but there is enough coupler overlap at the rear that I didn't get any unwanted uncoupling when ran the loco thru its paces on the "old way" run.  So now the engine is usable.
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Couple of unrelated comments... Setting CVs 3 and 4 to zero did not completely kill momentum.  Even at slow speed the loco continues for 3/4 of an inch when you throttle to zero or reverse direction.  This made loading coal and uncoupling on small magnets more challenging than normal.  It may be my imagination but turning on the prime mover sound made it hesitate even longer.  I also ran into clearance problems - the bottoms of the truck sides scrape at one of my road crossings and stop the loco.  I'll work on the crossing.  Finally, the "old way" run involves pulling ten loaded hoppers out of the Calcifer mine and my old SD 40s slip when I do that - one more hopper and they stall completely.  This engine appears to have better pulling power, no slippage at all.

[KSTXFLID]

Was thinking of picking a couple of these up. After reading this, no way.
Anyone from Atlas read this forum?

[NtheBasement]

You should see @spookshow 's updated review!  I will probably never buy an Atlas loco again, way too risky.

[DeltaBravo]

Did anyone try the MTL 1015's solution? Be interested in seeing the results.

[Mark5]

I have at least 4 of these (pre-sound) they are wonderful models.

That said - I am stunned that Atlas allowed these to reach the market with such unbelievable quality control issues. 

Mark

[nkalanaga]

If it has a flywheel it's not surprising that changing the settings didn't eliminate coasting completely.

[signalmaintainer]

I have at least 4 of these (pre-sound) they are wonderful models.

That said - I am stunned that Atlas allowed these to reach the market with such unbelievable quality control issues. 

Absolutely.

Spookshow nails it in his review: "Personally, my recommended solution would be to just avoid these models altogether. Frankly, this whole thing is a very sad example of poor QC on Atlas's part and I think they and their incompetant Chinese manufacturing partners have earned a womp-womp "F" rating for these nigh useless models."

I would like someone from Atlas to comment on.whether or not the lightboard w/E24 interface used with the SD-7/9s would work with the latest SD35. And, if so, what quantity does Atlas have on hand?

C'mon, Atlas, time to step up.

[spookshow]

Did anyone try the MTL 1015's solution? Be interested in seeing the results.

Yes I did. See the second post from the top.

-Mark

[DeltaBravo]

Yes I did. See the second post from the top.

-Mark

I missed that, thanks.

[bman]

So my question is do the DC SD35's from this run suffer from the same issue? Anyone know?

[peteski]

If it has a flywheel it's not surprising that changing the settings didn't eliminate coasting completely.

I agree that the low-friction mechanism and flywheels might be contributing to the coasting. They just don't stop on a dime like the old N scale locos did.  But at slow speeds the flywheels' action is greatly diminished. Strange . . .

NtheBasement, did you verify (read) CV3 and 4 to make sure they are actually set to zero?

[NtheBasement]

@peteski, Yup, still zero.  Also tried setting them to 255 to see if that would work.  All of my locos since the '80s have had flywheels and they pretty much stop on a dime, as does this SD 35 when I hit the emergency stop button.  So its not the flywheels, its the decoder's firmware.

@bman I assume that the DC light boards fit, and hopefully the non-sound decoders too.

There was a suggestion on another forum to mill the frame to lower the decoder.

More unrelated tidbits...
There are additional sounds but I haven't figured out how to hit the higher function key numbers on my NCE Powercab yet.  I'll never remember them all so I'm going to have to post a cheat sheet on my layout somewhere.
This is my first (and only) "scale speed" Atlas.  Nice, its actually usable for slow speed control without configuring the speeds.