I got a model power 0-4-0 switcher for yard service. I have tried lubing, tightning the screws and all with no prevail to stop this infernal noise it makes. By the way it is a steam. can any one tell me how to fix it?
I have an old Model Power 0-4-0T that I bought new in the early 1980s. It is a "sidewinder" with a short, fat "pancake" motor mounted crosswise and connected to the axles by flat gears (no worm involved.) On the bottom, it is marked "Lima Italy." A quarter century later, the gears still howl. In no way is it comparable to the Bachmann 0-6-0T which is a real jewel of a yard goat.
If your 0-4-0 is an old sidewinder, I doubt if you will ever get it to start smoothly and run quietly. You can, however, improve its pickup by adding track pickups between the drivers.
no, its not. I got it new and yes, i wish i could get my hands on a spectrum 0-6-0t
I saw a listing for a Mantua 0-6-0 tank, very inexpensive considering it is DCC ready. What the heck, I may get one and just let it howl. If it is a worm gear drive, I can probably quiet it down. If not it would look great in the yard.
Specifically, what kind of "infernal noise" does it make? Is it gear mesh whine, like an old Ford in granny low, or screeching like a bearing or something?
If it was mine, I would be tempted to dismantle and do some fine tuning on it. Let me know as I am still considering one.
Yampa, I have a new Mantua CLASSIC ( not the old original 0-6-0). It is a good running engine.
Jay
Is it DCC ready? One source said it is, another said not. I saw one price of $47 and listed as DCC ready. It's a cute little loco, sorta looks like Thomas.
Bob,
The new Mantua Classics 0-6-0s (red box) are DCC ready - 9 pin plugs I believe. $47 isn't a real good deal though. I'd have to check my dealer sheets but I think retail is only $55.
Jay
Mine is not the mantua 0-6-0, it is the model power 0-4-0 and I am terable at describing. can't describe the noise as more than a whining and it seems to change as the drivers go around. like it's higher at one position than another.
Model Power owns Mantua, might be using their own packaging. Anyway I found the 0-6-0T for $34, DCC ready.
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 11, 2008, 03:36:36 PM
Mine is not the mantua 0-6-0, it is the model power 0-4-0 and I am terable at describing. can't describe the noise as more than a whining and it seems to change as the drivers go around. like it's higher at one position than another.
The noise that is
Bob and others;
I had long been enamoured by the little 0-4-0 kettles that pulled the trainloads of rock, concrrete, etc at the Panama Canal construction, and had wanted so to get one. I saw one on "Trainworld" page in MR, for 12.00 several years ago. I bought two. They run like crap! I have toyed with the idea of getting the Bowser 0-4-0 mechanism and doing one, just to see. They [Bowser} are not exactly cheap!
For a few dollars more, I can get a whole 0-4-0 with Bowser's blessings. I will cogitate some more...
Rich
I have also noticed that there isn't a spectrum quality 0-4-0 out there COUGH!!! COUGH!!!!
Okay so is it a lost cause?
Probably. In addition, the 0-4-0 began to become obsolete about 1900. This is not to say some didn't linger, but by the time of the USRA, the 0-4-0 was essentially history and the 0-6-0 was in decline. The 20th Century steam switcher was the 0-8-0.
Gene
yes but my layout has no era, no specific roadname in locos, and limited space. 4x8 People! Don't anyone dare call me a toy trainer. 0-4-0s are cheap and will do the job. 0-6-0s are pricier and require more space and 0-8-0s won't even run on my 18 inch radius curves. my 0-4-0 is noisy but it runs and will work. I hate one thing about this forum. Everyone is telling me to go and "buy a new one" I work on a railroad income of less than $1,000 a year. Don't forget, i have other things to spend on to
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 13, 2008, 06:41:16 PM
0-4-0s are cheap ... 0-6-0s are pricier and require more space and 0-8-0s won't even run on my 18 inch radius curves.
There are many places you can cut corners and save money when model railroading. Locomotives should not be one of them. Better to have one locomotive that is a joy to run than half a dozen that are not.
If you want a good running steam switcher, then use one with as many pickup wheels as possible. An 0-6-0T is only slightly longer than an 0-4-0T and is shorter than an 0-4-0 with tender by quite a bit. An 0-8-0 is even longer but has twice as many pickup wheels and will still run happily on 18" radius curves. By comparison a typical 0-6-0T will run on 15" and 0-4-0T on 12" radius. Not surprising as 0-4-0 locomotives were often used on industrial and urban trackage with tight curves.
However, if you want to continue using your noisy 0-4-0, I have two suggestions. One is to improve performance by adding extra pickups such as shoes or sliders that pick up directly from the rails. The other is to play some good old fashioned railroad music and/or railroad sounds in the yard area to help cover up the locomotive noises.
well, my 0-4-0 has no tender and my 0-6-0 does. an 0-8-0 has no hope of fitting onto a turn table with car.
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 14, 2008, 09:37:23 AM
well, my 0-4-0 has no tender and my 0-6-0 does. an 0-8-0 has no hope of fitting onto a turn table with car.
If your 0-4-0 has NO tender, then it's not an "0-4-0" it's an "0-4-0T". Unless you've just lost the tender. :)
The "T" indicates that the locomotive has a "Tank" and it's an important part of the loco's description, otherwise people will think you have an 0-4-0 tender locomotive. It's all part of the railwoad lexicon and avoids any confusion.
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 13, 2008, 06:41:16 PM
yes but my layout has no era, no specific roadname in locos, and limited space. 4x8 People! Don't anyone dare call me a toy trainer. 0-4-0s are cheap and will do the job. 0-6-0s are pricier and require more space and 0-8-0s won't even run on my 18 inch radius curves. my 0-4-0 is noisy but it runs and will work. I hate one thing about this forum. Everyone is telling me to go and "buy a new one" I work on a railroad income of less than $1,000 a year. Don't forget, i have other things to spend on to
Which 0-8-0 are you referring to?
Have not come across and 0-8-0 that would not run on 18" curves.
don't know, which are you reffering to. as for the t, I am well aware it is an 0-4-0t but they are the same model just one has a tender hooked on.
Even a brass 0-8-0 should negotiate 18" curves. Switchers were designed for tight curves.
Agcain, terminology is important. There is a world of difference in an 0-X-0T (note the capital) and an
0-X-0.
Gene
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 14, 2008, 09:37:23 AM
well, my 0-4-0 has no tender and my 0-6-0 does. an 0-8-0 has no hope of fitting onto a turn table with car.
Could you explain what you mean by a car in reference to the 0-8-0 on a turntable?
my 0-4-0t can take a freight car onto a 90' turntable.
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 15, 2008, 09:32:43 AM
my 0-4-0t can take a freight car onto a 90' turntable.
Why would you want to?
so i can fit a yard, turn table, shed, servicing yard, and anything else on my table.
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 15, 2008, 02:23:43 PM
so i can fit a yard, turn table, shed, servicing yard, and anything else on my table.
But you still haven't answered the question, "Why would you want to take a freight car onto a turntable?" It wasn't done, unless the freight car had a "Unload From This Side Only" placard on one door.
In that case, you
1) Push the freight car onto the turntable using a locomotive.
2) Uncouple the loco and back away from the 'table.
3) Turn the freight car on the 'table.
4) Bring the loco back onto the 'table and couple up to the freight car.
5) Use the loco to then pull the freight from the 'table.
You could use a 4-8-8-4 to do that. No need for the loco to ever go onto the turntable. Simple, eh?
This thread started out with Daylight asking how to fix the noise in the loco. Now he is being told how he should run his railroad and what locos he should buy.
Will he be struck by lightning for having a loco and car on the turntable at the same time?
Maybe the car can only be unloaded from one side, no runarounds available, and the switcher is on the lead. Run onto the table, turn the whole thing around, pull past the siding, then back into the loading dock. Only one uncoupling operation.
Show me the rule book that says "You can't do that". Why can't we just help others to accomplish their intended goals and method of operation?
Quote from: Yampa Bob on June 15, 2008, 09:08:11 PM
This thread started out with Daylight asking how to fix the noise in the loco. Now he is being told how he should run his railroad and what locos he should buy.
Nobody has told him how he should run his railroad. All I see are helpful suggestions.
Quote
Will he be struck by lightning for having a loco and car on the turntable at the same time?
No, he won't be struck by lightening. I and a couple of other were responding to his comment about not being able to get a loco and freight car onto the turntable. We asked why he'd want to do that as it is unusual. When he told us I offered advice on how to do that, without putting both loco and freight car on the table. See below.
Quote
Maybe the car can only be unloaded from one side, no runarounds available, and the switcher is on the lead. Run onto the table, turn the whole thing around, pull past the siding, then back into the loading dock. Only one uncoupling operation.
We've already covered "Unload From This Side Only" placards. Though I doubt he's that far an advanced modeller. Though I'm open to correction. I presented a step by step
HELPFUL suggestion on how to turn a freight car if the freight car and loco can't fit on the 'table.
Quote
Show me the rule book that says "You can't do that". Why can't we just help others to accomplish their intended goals and method of operation?
Nobody has mentioned "You can't do that!" And we have offered help. Help that you've taken to be critism. Rather like you did on my post a few weeks ago regarding copying and pasting using the right mouse button?
Perhaps you need to read posts more carefully Bob. You seem to grab the wrong end of the stick sometimes.
Agree with your reply, Roger. All most all members here try and respond appropriately.
HGC
I assure you I read all posts very carefully. But if someone says he wants to perform a certain operation, the "why would you want to do that?" is a mute point, so why ask it? Who is to say it's unusual?
By the way, I always know where the handle is before I grab anything.
Quote from: Yampa Bob on June 15, 2008, 10:48:55 PM
I assure you I read all posts very carefully. But if someone says he wants to perform a certain operation, the "why would you want to do that?" is a mute point, so why ask it? Who is to say it's unusual?
Apparently Bob, you don't know much about how railroads operate. Turning a freight car on a turntable is unusual. It's far from an everyday occurance and only happens rarely on the prototype.
Why, this is exactly why there are wye's!
CSX Corporation has a turntable in Raleigh, NC used extensively for turning freight cars. The yard workers say it is indispensable to their operations.
There is much reference to turntables being used to turn railway cars, not just locomotives. Infrequently? Perhaps. Unusual? Not at all.
As to my knowledge about railroads, perhaps I know more than you give me credit for. In life I have learned that the key to success in any operation is to "Never Say Never".
IF he wants to turn cars, then he should buy a Factory Direct Trains trackmobile, or forever keep his peace...
Daylight, I hope you get your locomotive running smoothly and are happy with it. It might just be a simple matter of lubrication or minor adjustments. I realize we can't all afford the top end products. I should know, I spent my entire life in self-denial trying to build up a nest egg.
Just remember, it's your railroad, you can run it anyway you want to. Most of all, it's supposed to be fun.
Good luck
Bob
Bob.
You keep using the expression ".....doing it wrong"?
May I ask why?
I was being facetious, a sort of witicism, cajoling, ribbing or teasing, common in our western culture, not meant to be taken seriously. Since it might be taken as sarcasm I edited my post. :D
Sheldon said it perfectly, and I quote:
"It's impossible to get it wrong, and impossible to get it perfect."
Let's move on to greater things, like having fun.
Quote from: Yampa Bob on June 16, 2008, 02:53:22 PM
I was being fecicious, a sort of witicism, cajoling, ribbing or teasing, common in our western culture, not meant to be taken seriously. Since it might be taken as sarcasm I edited my post. :D
Understood. :-)
Okay look, I use it for accessing many tracks, the service track, the shed, the siding for short cars. I will run my layout as i want it. Thanks Yampa bob for not telling me i was"un realistic" and should be punished. My grandpa would say... "What ever you can think of, The railroads tried it just not always with success.
Buy a factory direct trains trackmobile, 70$ DC, 99$ DCC. Its small enough to fit itself and another loco or car on the turntable...
Trackmobile (http://www.factorydirecttrains.com/trackmobile.aspx)
Is the locomotive this?
(http://www.hobbylinc.com/gr/mdp/mdp6501.jpg)
That is a Model Power 0-4-0T
Gene
Quote from: SteamGene on June 17, 2008, 08:10:39 AM
That is a Model Power 0-4-0T
Gene
Looks like the same engine as found in train sets 40 years ago. Time for re-tooling I would assume.
yeah, thats it.
Quote from: Daylight4449 on June 17, 2008, 03:33:48 PM
yeah, thats it.
Too bad you described it as an "0-4-0" in the header when it's an 0-4-0T.
There's a big difference between an 0-4-0 and an 0-4-0T
Ah well, live and learn.
You know, If you sell off all of your stock, and buy some HOn3 stuff, you would be just fine on a 4x8... HOn3 locomotives typically max out at 2-8-2s (not counting articulateds), cars average out at just over 4" long, and are quite at home on 18"r curves... :D :-^
like i'd do that!
Yampa - pardon me if I offer a spelling correction. You used the word "fecicious" but you really mean "facetious." It is the only word in English that has all 5 vowels in the order that they appear in the alphabet.
Sorry for the correction but 42 years of teaching means I can't help myself!
Thanks Woody,
I used a internet dictionary before, but just now looked it up in my Webster. I'll change it later, right now the site won't let me modify anything. :D
I can usually spot a misspelled word a mile away, don't know why I goofed that one.