Any ideas on a better mechanism to fit under a Kato GP-38? Atlas GP40/40-2/38? Thanks in advance and God Bless!
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SD75I: Any ideas on a better mechanism to fit under a Kato GP-38? Atlas GP40/40-2/38? Thanks in advance and God Bless!<hr></blockquote> What is wrong with the Kato mechanism?
Maybe the original got broken? Mine still runs fine, especially after I cleaned and lubricated it last year. I'd hate to have to replace one of those integral flywheel-worm combinations though.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gregg Mahlkov: Maybe the original got broken? Mine still runs fine, especially after I cleaned and lubricated it last year. I'd hate to have to replace one of those integral flywheel-worm combinations though. <hr></blockquote> He was looking for a "better mechanism" not another. His post implied nothing was wrong with the Kato mechanism. He just was looking for a better one. In any event I can't help him as I don't have any of the Kato GP 38's.
ATLAS GP-40 mech should fit right in. Use the 40-2 if you want a decoder. <marquee>North American Rail Alliance</marquee>
I meant to say a GP38-2 and I'm sure everybody knew what I was talking about. Thanks for the input. I do have a 38-2 that just sits there with the light on and hums. Also, doesn't the GP38-2's sit a little high up? I would like to know more about cleaning the parts but have know idea where to start. Take care and God Bless All!
This loco was KATO's first effort on their own, and it had problems. There was not enough clearance between the shell and the motor armature winding. Which caused the winding to rub on the shell in some cases. This in turn caused the wires to break. This resulted in the problem you describe. Later runs of this loco had the shell thined out around the motor. KATO should have replacement motors available.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Larry E Shankles: This loco was KATO's first effort on their own, and it had problems. There was not enough clearance between the shell and the motor armature winding. Which caused the winding to rub on the shell in some cases. This in turn caused the wires to break. This resulted in the problem you describe. Later runs of this loco had the shell thined out around the motor. KATO should have replacement motors available.<hr></blockquote> You mean to say Kato made a bummer of a locomotive? Woe is me! My faith in mankind is shaken! This will require more sacrifices to the N Scale gods. Now where did I put my Visa card?
Seems like an Atlas GP40-2 chassis should work, plus its DCC ready, although I am sure it would require some shimming or modification (things are usually that easy ) Another option might be the new Atlas GP38... DCC ready and new slower speed motor. A lot of roads used trade in trucks on their GP38-2's.... in fact, I have a photo somewhere of a Seaboard System GP40-2 that has one Dash 2 truck and one old one! Harold
I have a few GP38(-2) and I've never heard about any motor rubing (that's a new one). On mine there is a metal sheild between the motor and the shell. the only thing I've encountered was the shaft coupling between the motor and the flywheel/worm comming loose and the was an easy fix. As for a better running mechanism you'd be hard pressed to find one until next years re-release of that unit (for my money Atlas dosn't measure up DCC or no, their flywheels don't even work).
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by squirrelkinns: (for my money Atlas dosn't measure up DCC or no, their flywheels don't even work). <hr></blockquote> Kato runs better but cross your fingers that you don't need to get repair parts. What good is a well tuned mechanism when you can't get a replacement shell? I ordered three GP 9 shells (complete) from Atlas and got them ($10.00 US for one) But try to get a SD 45 shell from Kato ($25.00 US for one). Better yet don't try. They don't have them. So what good are two fine running SD 45 mechanisms with no shells? You tell me.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Craig Martyn: All locomotives come with shells though, what happend?<hr></blockquote> Tried to strip painted shells because I couldn't get undecorated shells. Kato and everyone else didn't have any. Also, had a heck of a time getting a truck for a U30C (I accidently dropped it) Searched high and low for one for months. Finally I located one at an obscure train show long after I had given up hope of finding one. I just stood there staring at it in disbelief. It doesn't have to be this way. It's called customer service and Kato fails miserably. Gee Whizz, even Bachmann does a better job.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Gee Whizz,even Bachmann does a better job <hr></blockquote> Now that's a scarey thought.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Catt: Now that's a scarey thought. <hr></blockquote> YES isn't it
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by squirrelkinns: (for my money Atlas dosn't measure up DCC or no, their flywheels don't even work). <hr></blockquote> They don't have that smooth coast like Kato units do when you turn off the power to them. They might as well leave them out.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Inkaneer: So what good are two fine running SD 45 mechanisms with no shells? You tell me.<hr></blockquote> They will go under SD40 and SD40-2 bodies. BLW had Kato bodies not so long ago, though at ridiculous (compared to Atlas) prices, even with discount! At least with the -2 body you could get a couple of correctly trucked first order Conrail units! Gary.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gats: They will go under SD40 and SD40-2 bodies. BLW had Kato bodies not so long ago, though at ridiculous (compared to Atlas) prices, even with discount! At least with the -2 body you could get a couple of correctly trucked first order Conrail units! Gary.<hr></blockquote> That is exactly what I did. Two shells at BLW's discounted price of $23.95 each (versus MSRP price of $25.00). Atlas shells go for about $10.00. However, I didn't buy SD45's to make SD40-2 out of them. I already had all the Sd40-2 I wanted. Now I have two more SD40-2's and no SD45's. The basic problem remains. Say what you will about the fine running mechanism or the detailing or the messed up paint or whatever else. The name of the game is customer service. Irv Athearn learned it the hard way in HO scale. Back in the sixties he would produce what he wanted when he wanted. People were clamoring for F units but Irv turned a deaf ear. Others saw the need and jumped in and Irv soon had more competition than he ever cared for. Today there are eleven manufacturers of F units in HO. History does repeat itself. You just have to stick around long enouggh to see it first hand to believe it. Nice running mechanisms will take you only so far. But with nothing to back them up (repair parts, aka customer service) they are severely limited. Atlas, LifeLike and even Bachmann run rings around Kato in the customer service department. Of course that is not hard when your customer service score is zero.
And there lays the problem with this hobby right now. "I want lots of it and I want it real cheap!!" Who cares about 'Quality' these days anyway. I, for one care. That is why my money gose to MicroTrains and Kato first and then the others after. Atlas has some real QC problems right now and I'm going to have to sit back and watch the feed back on their new track.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by squirrelkinns: And there lays the problem with this hobby right now. "I want lots of it and I want it real cheap!!" Who cares about 'Quality' these days anyway. I, for one care. That is why my money gose to MicroTrains and Kato first and then the others after. Atlas has some real QC problems right now and I'm going to have to sit back and watch the feed back on their new track. <hr></blockquote> Would you settle for "less of it and more expensive"? "I don't think so. As for "who cares about 'Quality" these days. . ." you obviously are too young to remember what N scale locomotives looked like and how they operated 20 years ago. Atlas has some QC problems but so does Kato. Maybe you are more forgiving of Kato than Atlas. But I can get shells and repair parts from Atlas but not from Kato. So my basic question remains, what good is a finely tuned suberbly running SD 45 mechanism if I can't get repair parts to keep it that way? It is only good up to the time that the repair part is needed. And that is not good enough.
