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 Posted - February 11 2010 : 8:52:04 PM
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The subject 4-6-2 Loco pictured below has tender power pickup and pickup on the Loco.
I am wondering where the Loco power pickup points are located?
I have arrowed a somewhat small piece of metal that comes out sideways from under the shiny front truck axles hold down plate & rubs against the inside of one of the rear front truck wheels.
It seems a very small & insignificant piece of metal to be carrying all the power pulled through the Loco.
Should there be another one on the front truck, & is power gathered anywhere else on the Loco?
Thanks
Tanked
(& yes, the front truck spring is missing)
Edited by - TankedEngine on February 11 2010 8:54:47 PM
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Posted - February 12 2010 : 10:56:20 AM
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Rivarossi generally used steel disks on the back of smaller wheels (and drivers in a few cases) that bridged the plastic wheel center and carried the current. Not having the revised Pacific, I don't know if they switched to wipers on your version. If they did, it sounds like the one for the front wheel is missing.
There should be sprung plungers that rub the back of half of the drivers. I used a spare disk on the back of one wheel of the trailing truck and made an axle wiper for a little extra pickup.
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Posted - February 12 2010 : 5:17:01 PM
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quote:Rivarossi generally used steel disks on the back of smaller wheels (and drivers in a few cases) that bridged the plastic wheel center and carried the current. Not having the revised Pacific, I don't know if they switched to wipers on your version. If they did, it sounds like the one for the front wheel is missing.
There should be sprung plungers that rub the back of half of the drivers. I used a spare disk on the back of one wheel of the trailing truck and made an axle wiper for a little extra pickup.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759-February 12 2010: 10:56:20 AM
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Nelson, I've found the 2 sprung plungers, they rub the front & rear drivers, the middle of the 3 drivers is the geared axle.
I am having 'hesitation' issues at a couple of places on the track where other locos sail through.
I am now wondering if the lack of downwards pressure on the front truck due to the absence of the spring is affecting the current pickup through that truck.
In that vein, if anyone has one of these Pacific's & can post a picture of the underside showing the spring, & more importantly, - how it is attached to the loco chassis, that would be appreciated.
There are 2 holes where something should be to anchor the back of the spring to the loco chassis - if I can see what that looks like I can fabricate a replacement.
Thanks
Tanked
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Posted - February 12 2010 : 7:10:50 PM
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The four holes in the bottom cover are for mounting the brake shoe detail. There should be a post somewhere to hook the spring to, because pickup from the front truck will be spotty without the spring to ensure contact, but I don't see anything in the photo.
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Posted - February 12 2010 : 7:46:29 PM
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quote:The four holes in the bottom cover are for mounting the brake shoe detail. There should be a post somewhere to hook the spring to, because pickup from the front truck will be spotty without the spring to ensure contact, but I don't see anything in the photo.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759-February 12 2010: 7:10:50 PM
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Yes, I see the holes Nelson - The HO Seeker diagrams don't show the level of detail under the chassis to figure out how the spring is attached. My best guess would be to some part of whatever goes in the forward pair of the 2 sets of holes.
Tanked
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Posted - February 12 2010 : 8:08:42 PM
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A better picture of the spring attachment point issue.
Tanked
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Posted - February 13 2010 : 9:07:49 PM
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I'm beginning to think there wasn't a spring to begin with. The brake shoes were came in a small accessory bag for the owner to install, so they wouldn't hook the spring to it. Rivarossi went through some ridiculous cost-cutting measures in the last few years like eliminating pickups, I guess due to perpetual bankruptcy problems. You could drill and tap the cover for a short 2-56 screw to hold down a loop of wire with a hook, then find an appropriate spring.
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Posted - February 13 2010 : 9:23:08 PM
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quote:I'm beginning to think there wasn't a spring to begin with. The brake shoes were came in a small accessory bag for the owner to install, so they wouldn't hook the spring to it. Rivarossi went through some ridiculous cost-cutting measures in the last few years like eliminating pickups, I guess due to perpetual bankruptcy problems. You could drill and tap the cover for a short 2-56 screw to hold down a loop of wire with a hook, then find an appropriate spring.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759-February 13 2010: 9:07:49 PM
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Nelson, I'm also now wondering if the front trucks unit is the correct one for this model.
I took one of my Casey Jones springs & 'anchored' it at the 1st 2 hole positions- it would not have put enough pressure on the truck to be of any use, so if there was a spring, it would be pretty short.
Thus I am keen to see the underside of another one of these locos.
I believe it is a CNJ #5087-10, Heavy Pacific. (It may be their 'Blue Comet' Loco?)
Tanked
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Posted - February 13 2010 : 10:28:24 PM
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Your version is one of the improved versions with a Japanese can motor from the 90's onward, and that is the right truck. The original 70's production had a steel bottom cover and the spring hooked around a tab punched out of that. There are no later production 'rossi instructions posted to HO Seeker, except for the Allegheny. I just submitted scans of my manual for my 1994 Big Boy to Larry, so that should be posted soon.
The Casey Jones had a very long spring.
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Edited by - NickelPlate759 on February 13 2010 10:30:33 PM
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Posted - February 14 2010 : 08:00:22 AM
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quote:The four holes in the bottom cover are for mounting the brake shoe detail. There should be a post somewhere to hook the spring to, because pickup from the front truck will be spotty without the spring to ensure contact, but I don't see anything in the photo.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759-February 12 2010: 7:10:50 PM
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Nelson, can you suggest a Loco that has a short spring, then I can seek that out & try it.
I have found the CJ & 2-8-8-2 truck springs quite sensitive when working with them, they don't need much accidental stretching on reattachment to lose their 'oomph'.
Thanks
Tanked
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Posted - February 14 2010 : 09:34:43 AM
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I can't suggest a loco to steal one from, but if you have any old cassette recorders or players hanging around that you don't need, the drives often have small springs like that. Other than that, there's Small Parts.com, but they aren't cheap. http://tinyurl.com/yav8wh2
As for the stretching, don't pull on them. Use fine tweezers to remove the end loops from their mounts.
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Posted - February 18 2010 : 06:41:52 AM
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Tanked,
Here is a shot of the original truck and tension spring, which I replaced at some point.
Here is the pickup I added to the trailing truck using half an E8 front truck wiper, and a metal disk from a scrap wheelset.
I had forgotten that I have a bunch of these springs in my parts bin, so if you still need a few PM me.
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