Excuse me if this has already been discussed, but any suggestions on how to improve James pulling strength by adding weights? I thought about using aquarium gravel in his cab, but i don't believe thats heavy enough...
Quote from: kman781 on December 31, 2009, 07:54:41 PM
Excuse me if this has already been discussed, but any suggestions on how to improve James pulling strength by adding weights? I thought about using aquarium gravel in his cab, but i don't believe thats heavy enough...
U can remove his cab and put in two nickels, 1 on each side of the cab ;)
Quote from: ThomasFan247 on January 01, 2010, 12:02:20 AM
Quote from: kman781 on December 31, 2009, 07:54:41 PM
Excuse me if this has already been discussed, but any suggestions on how to improve James pulling strength by adding weights? I thought about using aquarium gravel in his cab, but i don't believe thats heavy enough...
U can remove his cab and put in two nickels, 1 on each side of the cab ;)
and its cheap! ;D
I myslef am working on adding lead weight to him. The process is hard because I have to make a mold and melt down the weight into the mold to fit it into the train. ;)
Quote from: ThomasFan247 on January 01, 2010, 12:02:20 AM
Quote from: kman781 on December 31, 2009, 07:54:41 PM
Excuse me if this has already been discussed, but any suggestions on how to improve James pulling strength by adding weights? I thought about using aquarium gravel in his cab, but i don't believe thats heavy enough...
U can remove his cab and put in two nickels, 1 on each side of the cab ;)
Hmmm, I was thinking something much more heavier, but not a bad idea... :)
Quote from: kman781 on January 01, 2010, 09:02:12 AM
Quote from: ThomasFan247 on January 01, 2010, 12:02:20 AM
Quote from: kman781 on December 31, 2009, 07:54:41 PM
Excuse me if this has already been discussed, but any suggestions on how to improve James pulling strength by adding weights? I thought about using aquarium gravel in his cab, but i don't believe thats heavy enough...
U can remove his cab and put in two nickels, 1 on each side of the cab ;)
Hmmm, I was thinking something much more heavier, but not a bad idea... :)
The nickels do enhance the performance greatly. I used this method and now James can pull 4+ coahces.
I'll try that if I can't find any other ways. But tomorrow I'll go looking at fishing weights at the store....
Does the nickels in there rattle? and is it easy to take the cab off james?
Depends. If you've got one of the ones where a screw got covered by plastic, then no. Otherwise yes. And presumably one would glue the nickels on, affixing them with superglue, some other CA glue, epoxy, Blu-tak, or what have you.
I've ordered a Bachmann James and Percy to do "improvements" to relatively soon. Opening the cabs up and adding weights are one agenda, adding pickups to James and detailing could be another if you want ;)
http://www.ppw-aline.com/weights.htm
Well everyone, I've suceeded in improving James' tractive effort! I visited one of the local mega-chain stores, went to their fishing aisele and got these things called "Egg Sinkers", which are made of steel. I just jammed 4 into the cab of James, along with decoder wires and PRESTO! If anyone wants to do the same, make sure you wrap the weights in electrical tape so they won't short anything. :D
Quote from: White_Crow05 on January 03, 2010, 02:21:04 AM
Does the nickels in there rattle? and is it easy to take the cab off james?
Its VERY easy to take the cab off- just remove the two screws underneath the cab.
i've tried nickels and the lead weights and still my james is performing poorly. with out pulling anything at all the driving wheels spin and a high rate and james creeps along slowly, also he seems to want to derail at switches anyone know how to fix these?
This is just a suggestion. I don't have James personally, but by photos of the engine, this might work. If anyone has a standard Bachmann Tank car, smash it. Take the wieght out, and you can see that it might be rounded just enough to fit perfectly inside of James. Now, you can't take it apart and take out the wieght, as there is no screws to take out and take the car apart. Atleast, I don't think there is. I smashed one with my friend because it did'nt work anymore, and took out the wieght, because I salvaged as much as I could from it, and we put the rest in his scrapyard.
SMASH IT! :D
Ok, not sure if that would work though. :-\ I've taken the cab off my James Model and from the firebox up to the face is all motor and eye mechanism. Don't really think the weight would fit in that. :-\
Quote from: James The Red Engine on January 06, 2010, 05:58:39 PM
SMASH IT! :D
Ok, not sure if that would work though. :-\ I've taken the cab off my James Model and from the firebox up to the face is all motor and eye mechanism. Don't really think the weight would fit in that. :-\
Oh. Oh well, it was just a suggestion. ;)
Quote from: White_Crow05 on January 05, 2010, 05:53:01 PM
i've tried nickels and the lead weights and still my james is performing poorly. with out pulling anything at all the driving wheels spin and a high rate and james creeps along slowly, also he seems to want to derail at switches anyone know how to fix these?
Are your rails and train wheels clean? I have the same problem because of excess conductive lube all over the rails and wheels.
Quote from: White_Crow05 on January 05, 2010, 05:53:01 PM
i've tried nickels and the lead weights and still my james is performing poorly. with out pulling anything at all the driving wheels spin and a high rate and james creeps along slowly, also he seems to want to derail at switches anyone know how to fix these?
Remove the spring from the pilot truck- it worked for me
Quote from: James The Red Engine on January 06, 2010, 05:58:39 PM
SMASH IT! :D
Ok, not sure if that would work though. :-\ I've taken the cab off my James Model and from the firebox up to the face is all motor and eye mechanism. Don't really think the weight would fit in that. :-\
Theres en0ugh room where under the cab to fit atleast 4 egg sinker weights. 5 if there ARE no decoder wires to deal with