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 Posted - December 28 2014 : 12:54:08 PM
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If someone could only set up a cottage industry converting PT's over to a small disc can motor and doing that or a new chassis in the tender drives. So many of us run these or would like to run them. So many of Tycos engines of that era are quite colorful but do not run nearly as nice as they can look. I think there might be money to be made here or atleast make many in Tyco land happy, such as myself! Just my thought for today. Mikie
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Posted - December 28 2014 : 1:15:19 PM
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I thought of it. I'd get all my dud's and machine/convert them. Then sell with a core charge if no PT could be sent to me. Basically, I'd give a discount if a PT was sent back when the newly remotored one was mailed out. I'd be unsure of a price. Another popular thing is taking the diesels and swapping them to a better chassis. Some one here swapped a C430 to a Bachmann B23/30-7. Very minor work anyone could handle and the GP20 fits a Athearn GP9 blue box nicely. Heck, I've seen a new Bachmann GE 44 Tonner under a Tyco tender! It's a preference to some people. Besides, a nice running chassis with all wheel pick up is an ideal set up along with a smoother quieter chassis that's basically DCC ready with minor work and can be later on have sound installed. Until I'm retired, I doubt I'll put my idea into business. Rather have time for my own projects and so on than sell a product on a rare occasion when a PT that runs can't be found at the moment. Just my opinion.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - December 28 2014 : 2:48:01 PM
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quote:I thought of it. I'd get all my dud's and machine/convert them. Then sell with a core charge if no PT could be sent to me. Basically, I'd give a discount if a PT was sent back when the newly remotored one was mailed out. I'd be unsure of a price. Another popular thing is taking the diesels and swapping them to a better chassis. Some one here swapped a C430 to a Bachmann B23/30-7. Very minor work anyone could handle and the GP20 fits a Athearn GP9 blue box nicely. Heck, I've seen a new Bachmann GE 44 Tonner under a Tyco tender! It's a preference to some people. Besides, a nice running chassis with all wheel pick up is an ideal set up along with a smoother quieter chassis that's basically DCC ready with minor work and can be later on have sound installed. Until I'm retired, I doubt I'll put my idea into business. Rather have time for my own projects and so on than sell a product on a rare occasion when a PT that runs can't be found at the moment. Just my opinion.
Originally posted by Redneck Justin - December 28 2014 : 1:15:19 PM
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Would be helpful if a database (a just a list) existed showing what Tyco shell is compatible with what other brand chassis/drivetrain. I know I've seen a bunch of them on threads here, but don't make a note of it and then forget where or what the heck it was.
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - December 28 2014 : 5:00:45 PM
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quote:If someone could only set up a cottage industry converting PT's over to a small disc can motor and doing that or a new chassis in the tender drives .
Originally posted by cadetpwr - December 28 2014 : 12:54:08 PM
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A sturdy tender chassis, built with regular trucks like an Athearn chassis only with wheels and trucks that would look credible in a tender would be a godsend for all the old Tyco consolidations out there and would find much wider application powering many other engines. Imagine two of them, one as a tender and the other as an auxiliary water tender, on one engine. That would be a stump puller.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - December 28 2014 : 5:12:13 PM
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Darth Santa Fe did just that scsshagghy! It's so credible and scaled, you'll never know it! Used some Athearn parts and so on.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - December 28 2014 : 5:19:14 PM
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Darth Santa Fe's take on a Tyco Chattanooga steamer:
http://tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11842
My forgotten and big project is a mix mash of the Tyco 0-8-0, 2-8-0 and a Mantua shifter. Using the 0-8-0 frame, shifter motor/axle/gears and the rest is Tyco 2-8-0. No more tender drive at all! Basically a cross Tyco Mantua as if Tyco never used a PT in a tender. I hope to get it in one piece soon.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - December 28 2014 : 10:38:46 PM
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quote:My forgotten and big project is a mix mash of the Tyco 0-8-0, 2-8-0 and a Mantua shifter. Using the 0-8-0 frame, shifter motor/axle/gears and the rest is Tyco 2-8-0.
Originally posted by Redneck Justin - December 28 2014 : 5:19:14 PM
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Sounds interesting. It'll be great to see how you work out the details. Lots of pictures, please?
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Posted - December 28 2014 : 11:13:16 PM
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I had a post along time ago somewhere on the forum showing what I did to modify the 0-8-0 frame for the motor and gears to work.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - December 29 2014 : 12:08:56 PM
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I think for this project to work, someone would have to have a whole new frame cast with a can motor mount built in. Even with that, how much money would people pay to buy a PT can truck to replace their old one? $40, 50? With the cost of a new can motor, and a recast frame, I'm not sure many people would want to pay that much. And converting an original truck frame for a can to fit is a lot of custom work, not minimum wage pay either. While the engineering is out there, I just don't think the market could or would bear the cost. Having to mount the can sideways REALLY cuts down on what motors you can use. I was thinking maybe re-use the older MU-2 truck frame, as the armature is laid out in parallel with the tracks, you could squeeze a can motor in there and engage both worm gears (somehow), would seem to me to be a much easier conversion than a PT truck frame. Since the Tyco engines have plenty of vertical height, putting a small can above the truck would work easier than trying to mount one sideways. I haven't looked that closely at the MU-2 for this project really, but I have a couple of junkers with damaged armatures that I could use to cut apart and see how a Can motor would work inside, or above, the truck frame. I feel the PT version just doesn't have as much to offer in the way of motor choices. While people have converted them, I doubt it would be cost-effective on a mass -production scale, or even limited production.
Jerry in VA
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - December 29 2014 : 6:47:53 PM
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The only one I would want someone to redo for me is my Royal Blue. I would ship it out tomorrow if someone wanted to do the work to convert it to a better drive, but from the ouside once done, it looks like its factory built.as far the tender trucks look. I thought about doing the motor in the engine conversion, but I dont care for that little open frame motor either. And the Helix Humper line of repower motors is on hold for who knows how long if ever again. Mike
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Posted - December 29 2014 : 6:58:01 PM
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And moving the motor up front requires a lot of serious work. Modifying the weight, fire box bottom piece and frame mods. Not as simple as a CDROM job. I've got a couple junk blocks. Just need a die grinder bit and dremel and a drill of sorts.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - December 29 2014 : 7:09:11 PM
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Another overlooked aspect is that CDROM motors may cause issues depending on the gimble used to mount the block to frame and radius curve it can and can't navigate. There maybe slimmer CDROM motors, just not shorter in height. I may navigate online for smaller versions. The tender drive wouldn't be adversely effected as long as it clears the frame as the block doesn't have to swivel.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - December 29 2014 : 9:05:56 PM
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There is a can motor replacement for the MU-2. It wasn't designed that way but, it works out nicely. You can get a 5/8" armature from NWSL or a can motor (don't know the size offhand) and plug it in essentially. Worms from NWSL will match the TYCO geared axle. I've seen it done.
All told, I think it costs $40.00. Converting the TYCO shell to an Athearn frame is more economical.
Remotor or new cast PT frames is doable. But, I don't think CDrom motors are up to the task.
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Posted - December 29 2014 : 9:36:18 PM
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I've heard mixed results with the CDROM setup.
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