Frustrated that I don't have the extra cash to run up the price on the FEF-3 on ebay and full well knowing the AC-12's are still a figment of our imaginations, I decided to install a TCS-Z2 in a ConCor Challenger. Install went well but the engine seems to run like crap and is in serious need of some bullfrog snot! (slips pulling 12 Kato passenger cars up a 2 % grade.) Keep in mind, I haven't run it in years. literally. The pickup seems really terrible. I don't remember Challengers having this problem? Do you think I'll have to add tender pickup to smooth it out? If you put a load on the engine it runs considerably smoother.
Run it, then run it some more. The frames have probably oxidized where the alxes ride and are causing the pickup issues. The easiest cure is to run it for a while and let it clean itself up. As far as the traction, the tires are probably dry rotted or at least hardend. What color are they? Oddly enough, you may be able to get better replacements from the newer walthers loco's. They sell them as replacement parts. The rubber on them is much better that what I remember Con-Cor / Rivarossi using.
Agreed. I just reworked a similar Rivarossi Challenger that is basically the same thing (I believe) and it was pretty rough going at first, but it ran like a champ after an hour or so on the N trak loop a the club. This one is a late 80's vintage with traction tires, though. It never had tender pick ups, but I'm adding them, and I'll see how much that improves things. Lee
The RR / Con-Cor Challenger has a very weak pickup system for such a huge engine. Basically the three axles in the front engine pick up one side, the rear engine the other. So in total there are only 6 wheels picking power, about as good as a 0-6-0 switcher. The best way to improve that is to "electrify" the tender. Richmond Controls has a kit specifically designed for the centipede tender. From my own experience it makes a world of difference. It converted my RR Challenger from shelf-queen to queen of the road: Here is the link to the Richmond Control page (no affiliation, just a very impressed customer): http://www.richmondcontrols.com/Wpr_reva.htm Cheers Dirk
Bigford, actually I do not know: I converted one RR Challenger to a NP Z8, doing massive changes to the tender (removing all rivets, changing the toolbox and piping). In the process I removed the complete coal-load, gaining access to the interior. I can not recall if the coal load is a separate part or if I needed to cut it out. The opening under the coal load is big enough to get a decoder into the tender. I have not yet modified my second RR challenger as an new Arthearn engine came along..... Cheers Dirk
The tender is really pretty simple. I pried the trailing end off the tender with an exacto knife. There are small amounts of glue that hold the end of the tender on. Once you get the end off, it appears all there is inside is a couple pieces of steel glued into a slot for weight. I need to get the Richmond Controls pickup modification now.
