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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcsb!chaltas
From: chaltas@uiucdcsb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: looking for info about regearing loc
Message-ID: <11100026@uiucdcsb.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Oct-84 19:39:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.11100026
Posted: Mon Oct  8 19:39:00 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Oct-84 04:38:31 EDT
References: <397@genrad.UUCP>
Lines: 26
Nf-ID: #R:genrad:-39700:uiucdcsb:11100026:000:1350
Nf-From: uiucdcsb!chaltas    Oct  8 18:39:00 1984

I don't have much experience with HO, but I have done some tinkering i
N guage -- there are some real loosers as far as running goes in N guage.

I "built" a doodlebug power chassis using the trucks and gear tower of
a Model Power (acutally an old MRC unit) C-420.  As it originally didn't
run worth a d**n, I did the following to it:
  replaced the traction tire wheels with solid metal ones for better
  electrical pickup.
  replaced the motor with a Sagami can motor (little one, 12mm diameter).

It still ran ragged, so I had a friend turn me a flywheel -- that helped
AFTER I got the flywheel reasonably balanced.  It still shakes a lot at
moderately high speeds.  It still doesn't run all that smoothly, and I
think that this is due to slop and gear binding in the power truck.  I've
thought about adding another gearbox to increase the gear ratio, but haven't
figured out where to put it.  As it is the motor draws its rated .24 amps
with almost no load, and runs quite hot, so I am suspicious of the original
gearing.

Question: does anyone know any way to turn Model Power locos (other than
those made by Minitrix, which are just fine) into decent runners?  I tried
converting to all metal (no tires) wheels, but it doesn't help enough.  In
particular, one direction is often noticable worse than the other

		G. Chaltas (uiucdsc!chaltas)