bcrn
Full Member
Posts: 133
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Post by bcrn on Jun 3, 2012 18:04:51 GMT -8
Hi all. I've got a proto 2k e-8, and when i finally got around to putting it together, and run it, I find that the couplers are too low to couple to the bev-bel athearn passenger cars I have. So what are the options for fixes?
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Post by calzephyr on Jun 3, 2012 18:34:58 GMT -8
Hi all. I've got a proto 2k e-8, and when i finally got around to putting it together, and run it, I find that the couplers are too low to couple to the bev-bel athearn passenger cars I have. So what are the options for fixes? Kadee has off set shank couplers to correct some of the models that had incorrect coupler height to the correct height. I would use one of the Kadee coupler test gauges to set or adjust all of the cars and the loco to the correct height, not just changing the loco to match the cars. There is a standard gauge that Kadee sells and you can match all of you rolling stock and locos to that device. This gauge also allows you to check the air hose arms to the correct level so they do not drag on crossings and work with the magnets. It is worth having. Larry |
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Post by el3637 on Jun 3, 2012 21:08:23 GMT -8
Depending on the vintage of your Proto E8.... Kadee made some adaptors to close couple that may also correct the height issue. Also, your Bev-Bel cars may very well be off. If they are Athearn cars they have truck mounted couplers that are prone to sagging a bit.
Andy
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bcrn
Full Member
Posts: 133
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Post by bcrn on Jun 5, 2012 17:59:47 GMT -8
el3637, well, the cars are athearn, but they are about where they ought to be. the e-8 is an early run proto, blue box with the peek-a-boo flap on it.with the couplers installed, they are about half again as low as the car couplers. btw, were there any other flaws specific to these units?
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Post by el3637 on Jun 6, 2012 11:10:22 GMT -8
el3637, well, the cars are athearn, but they are about where they ought to be. the e-8 is an early run proto, blue box with the peek-a-boo flap on it.with the couplers installed, they are about half again as low as the car couplers. btw, were there any other flaws specific to these units? They don't sit level. Nose is higher than the tail. While this seems to be an issue with the pilot insert forcing the nose up, the reality is the height is off even before you snap the pilot on. The problem is in the way the bod snaps to the fuel tank, and the fuel tank is held in place with some kind of double sided foam tape, and it's not level. Because of the four very tight snap lugs, the body's orientation has to follow the fuel tank's. IIRC the fix is to remove the fuel tank and the sticky tape completely, and remount it level using some other method -preferably a firm mount. The height ends up still a bit too tall but at least it's level. I actually haven't put any first run E units into fleet service. The E7s and E6s don't have the tilt problem, but still sit too high. None of this was fixed until the recent Walthers releases with the new tooling and new trucks/gearboxes. The early run E units also have the floating journal covers, which have a tendency to fall off and get lost. A really bad idea that was praised by early reviewers, until they had been out there a while... kinda like Motor Trend's 1971 Car of the Year, the Chevy Vega  Andy |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Jun 6, 2012 16:53:43 GMT -8
They pull like clydesdales, lots of power.
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Post by calzephyr on Jun 8, 2012 15:07:42 GMT -8
el3637, well, the cars are athearn, but they are about where they ought to be. the e-8 is an early run proto, blue box with the peek-a-boo flap on it.with the couplers installed, they are about half again as low as the car couplers. btw, were there any other flaws specific to these units? They don't sit level. Nose is higher than the tail. While this seems to be an issue with the pilot insert forcing the nose up, the reality is the height is off even before you snap the pilot on. The problem is in the way the bod snaps to the fuel tank, and the fuel tank is held in place with some kind of double sided foam tape, and it's not level. Because of the four very tight snap lugs, the body's orientation has to follow the fuel tank's. IIRC the fix is to remove the fuel tank and the sticky tape completely, and remount it level using some other method -preferably a firm mount. The height ends up still a bit too tall but at least it's level. I actually haven't put any first run E units into fleet service. The E7s and E6s don't have the tilt problem, but still sit too high. None of this was fixed until the recent Walthers releases with the new tooling and new trucks/gearboxes. The early run E units also have the floating journal covers, which have a tendency to fall off and get lost. A really bad idea that was praised by early reviewers, until they had been out there a while... kinda like Motor Trend's 1971 Car of the Year, the Chevy Vega Andy Andy The new July 2012 Railroad Model magazine has a nice article on how to lower the chassis and correct the tilt also. It actually has two different problems and both are corrected. I purchase two of the old ones and never used them since they had some other problems also with detail and fidelity. Larry |
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Post by spookyac47 on Jun 9, 2012 21:12:31 GMT -8
. . . . Andy The new July 2012 Railroad Model magazine has a nice article on how to lower the chassis and correct the tilt also. . . . Larry "Railroad Model" magazine? Did you intend to say Railroad Model Craftsman magazine . . . or . . . ? Thank You |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 4:45:29 GMT -8
. . . . Andy The new July 2012 Railroad Model magazine has a nice article on how to lower the chassis and correct the tilt also. . . . Larry "Railroad Model" magazine? Did you intend to say Railroad Model Craftsman magazine . . . or . . . ? Thank You The article about correcting the E8's height and stance is in the current issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. The article is about Illinois Central E9's and the author shows in detail how he fixed the Proto model. The IC E9 article is the cover story. |
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