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 Posted - December 23 2013 : 9:09:38 PM
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has anybody successfully converted a power torque truck to all wheel pickup? if so, how did you do it?
is it possible to use the metal wheels off the dummy truck in a power torque locomotive, to make a motor unit with all metal wheels?
would sliding pickup shoes hung off the truck sideframe work?
did anybody ever make a replacement wheelset with metal wheels designed for a powertorque application?
I would like to rebuild my shark with all wheel pickup and eliminate the traction tires as well, in the hopes of increasing reliability.
Jeffery s ward sr
Pittsburgh, pa
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Posted - December 23 2013 : 11:47:09 PM
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You would need insulated metal wheels, like those used on the MU-2 trollies and 4 wheel switchers, cut the PT wheels with the tires off the geared hubs, and press the brass wheels & hubs together onto the axles. You might need to put some CA between the brass wheels and the hubs to keep the hubs from slipping.
You would need wipers on the side or underframe assembly since the gearing is in the way.
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on December 24 2013 02:23:05 AM
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Posted - December 24 2013 : 11:59:28 AM
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quote:did anybody ever make a replacement wheelset with metal wheels designed for a powertorque application?
Originally posted by jward - December 23 2013 : 9:09:38 PM
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Tyco did.
Tyco made PT drives for the trolleys and 4 wheel switchers That have the wheel sets you would need. As Nelson said, you would need to make wipers.
I have tried pick up shoes that ride on the rails, work if you can keep them adjusted properly.
Ray
Edited by - Ray Marinaccio on December 24 2013 1:10:44 PM
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Posted - December 24 2013 : 3:08:52 PM
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I forgot they had those wheels on the PT MDT's, and I own one.  You would need 3 MDT's to get the 6 insulated wheels. You can see the wipers in Ray's shot which are mounted at either end of the frame and ride on the wheel treads.
Ray, is that a chewed up MU-2 axle gear holding in the center axle?  In 1971 I had my first & last Tyco F7 strip like that to the point it could freewheel. Since it cost $3.99 and the truck was riveted together, it ended up in the round file. Not sure why it happened; I don't think I was that rough on it.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - December 24 2013 : 6:45:29 PM
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quote:Ray, is that a chewed up MU-2 axle gear holding in the center axle?
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â December 24 2013Â :Â 3:08:52 PM
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It sure is. They are great for replacing the original cracked axle retainer.
The PT Trolley seems to be harder to find.
Ray
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Posted - December 25 2013 : 12:42:50 AM
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I didn't know they ever put a PT drive in a trolley. They must be rare.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - December 25 2013 : 01:39:05 AM
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quote:I didn't know they ever put a PT drive in a trolley. They must be rare.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â December 25 2013Â :Â 12:42:50 AM
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I have only seen a few.
Ray
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Posted - December 25 2013 : 08:39:32 AM
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thanks guys.
I have some ideas now. never thought of the Plymouth or the trolley. would the tender drive unit also provide the wheelsets I need?
I will be looking for these at the Greenberg show in a few weeks. ebay seems to be ridiculously expensive. there;s a guy on there trying to sell 630s without handrails for 120 apiece.
once I get this thing rebuilt, with dcc and led lighting including the class lights, I will post photos.
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Posted - December 25 2013 : 1:40:41 PM
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quote:Would the tender drive unit also provide the wheelsets I need?
Originally posted by jward - December 25 2013 : 08:39:32 AM
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I believe the tender drive unit also used traction tires, so all wheels would not be metal for electrical pickup.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - December 25 2013 : 1:49:20 PM
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definitely want to see a step by step process!!
just me Ray... and just because I have Tyco doesn't mean I am not a model railroader
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Posted - December 25 2013 : 11:39:08 PM
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The tender drive wouldn't help. It has all plastic wheels on the driven axles.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - December 27 2013 : 08:16:13 AM
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I noticed that NWSL makes blunt end wheelsets in 40" and 42" diameter. these are also offered in kit form. Does antbody know which diameter wheel is used on tyco diesels?
Jeffery s ward sr
Pittsburgh, pa
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Posted - January 08 2014 : 10:33:43 PM
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The tender drive does come with some very nice nickel silver wheels for pickup on the outboard axles. They have the same diameter axle as the standard drive axles on a PT. Might be worth looking at. I have been considering using a process known as electroforming to plate some plastic wheels. This would solve the problem of the drive wheels that are geared. I have access to the facilities to do this sort of thing. I will give it a shot in the next couple of weeks and let everybody know what the results are.
Edited by - metalsmith1 on January 16 2014 02:23:04 AM
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Posted - January 08 2014 : 10:36:38 PM
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| While we are on the subject, another alternative is to swap out the non-powered truck with an Athearn powered truck with the gears removed. Then you can at least get pickup from both rails with at least one tuck.
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Posted - January 09 2014 : 12:05:47 AM
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I am going to try pulling the plastic wheels off and replacing them with nwsl metal ones.
anything I can do to improve the pickups will help when I convert it to dcc. I have a keep alive decoder I am going to use with this engine.
other things I am planning are putting red leds in the class lights on the nose, and a yellow glow led for the headlight.
I am in the process of gathering the parts now, will post more when I can start work on it.
if I am successful with this my next project will be a super 630 done the same way.
Jeffery s ward sr
Pittsburgh, pa
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Posted - January 09 2014 : 01:18:19 AM
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Tyco put traction tires on PTs for a reason. I'd be concerned that one without traction tires would have very little tractive effort!
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - January 09 2014 : 09:46:16 AM
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traction tires may increase pulling power but were also a major source of derailments and other erratic operation. there is a reason that their use has been discontinued by most modern manufacturers.
in the case of tyco, any increase in pulling power would be more than offset by the decreased reliability of 4 wheel pickup. I am trying to make a decently reliable runner here, so the tires gotta go.
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