Lifelike SW9 Loksound installation (N scale)

[Jim Starbuck]

I’d love to see a video of your project!

[tehachapifan]

Oh no, we are reading your updates. At least I am.  I just didn't have anything to add.

Thanks, Peteski!

Russ,

Sorry I didn’t see your post earlier.
Awsome that it’s running well for you!
After I got the height adjusted I put a dab of clear Gallery Glass which is much like Micro Krystal Kleer through each one of the 4 holes in the sides of the frame. White glue would probably work too as you just want something to firm up and hold the tab in place within the frame slot.
I doesn’t take much to keep the motor cradle in place once you get it where it’s running well.

Glad you took the plunge on this project.

Thanks, Jim! No worries!

On affixing the cradle, I ended up gluing some .015 thick shims to the sides of the cradle at all 4 corners that stick up above the side of the frame a little and, when I got the motor positioned just right, I glued some styrene strip pieces onto the shims right above and against the frame that act as stopper blocks that keep the cradle from moving downward. I figure the pressure of the shell over the decoder on top of the motor will keep it from moving upward. So far, it seems to be staying put perfectly. The .015 shims also fill the void between the cradle and the frame halves just about right and the motor stays vertically aligned better than without.

Somehow I missed several updates on this. I sure didn’t mean to leave you hanging Russ.
You had asked how I affixed the extension tubes to the motor shafts. Yes, I used ACC. I figured with the flywheel pressed on nothing could get to the motor bushing and it only took an extremely small amount.

Thanks! I also first tried ACC but it didn't seem to hold over time. Again, I think this was mostly because not enough of the worm shafts extended into the sleeves and it would slowly loosen and start to wobble. Solder seems to work great though, which I only did in the worm side of the sleeve and not the motor side. The motor side is only pressed on.

I’d love to see a video of your project!

I would love to post one but am not sure how. You need a YouTube acct, right? I don't have one yet.

Thanks!

[CNscale]

FWIW, I'm lurking here as well, paying close attention as I'm contemplating a similar project for my SW1200.

[Jim Starbuck]

I would love to post one but am not sure how. You need a YouTube acct, right? I don't have one yet.

That’s correct Russ,
Upload your video to YouTube then copy the link to your posts here.
Took me quite a while before I learned how to post video. I’m not very good at shooting video or photography and admire those on TRW that are superb at it.

Jim

[reinhardtjh]

Oh no, we are reading your updates. At least I am.  I just didn't have anything to add.

Kind of feel like I'm talking to myself...

Also watching and reading.  The only thing I would have to add is that last I looked (around the time of the Bachmann Halloween sale) was that they were sold out of the NW2 S4 motors.  I don't know if they have another that is comparable.  But I found these 7mmx16mm coreless motors on Ebay and ordered two for testing (some day). 

[peteski]

Also watching and reading.  The only thing I would have to add is that last I looked (around the time of the Bachmann Halloween sale) was that they were sold out of the NW2 motors.  I don't know if they have another that is comparable.  But I found these 7mmx16mm coreless motors on Ebay and ordered two for testing (some day).

Bachmann S4 and SD45 are also dual-shaft small coreless motors.  At least one of those should still be available.

[reinhardtjh]

Bachmann S4 and SD45 are also dual-shaft small coreless motors.  At least one of those should still be available.

I meant the S4.     I'll have to look and see if the SD45 motors are close.

On inspection, it's hard to tell.

SD45 (Sound Value model):


ALCo S4:


Click the funny boxes to see the photos.  I'll fix them later. It's bed time.

[Jim Starbuck]

Bachmann engines that I’ve found to use the same basic motor with variations of flywheels, couplings and worms are the new version GP-40, the sound value SD-45 and the K4 4-6-2.  There may be others.
I have one of the motors from the eBay seller linked in the above post and it appears to be identical to the basic Bachmann motor we’ve used in this SW conversion.

Jim

[tehachapifan]

Jim, which sound file did you use for the two locos above? I put 73860 in mine bit the prime mover in the videos above sounds a little throatier.

Also, if you did use 73860, what master volume and prime mover volume did you go with? I seem to have to raise these in mine higher that other locos with the same decoder and speaker. Not sure if file 73860 was created at a lower volume than other files.

Edit: I see now that Skytop did the Decoder install in the second video.

Thanks!

[Jim Starbuck]

Russ,

I’m at work so I won’t be able to check the volume settings but I’m pretty sure the sound file was 75871. I won’t be able to check for sure until tomorrow.

Jim

[tehachapifan]

Thanks, Jim! That particular file says it's for an 8cyl loco, whereas my SW1200 would be a 12cyl. That said, the sample for the 8cyl sure sounds nice! I could use it as a stand-in, I suppose. Wouldn't be the first time I used a technically-incorrect sound file.

[Jim Starbuck]

Russ,

I originally had the correct file loaded in mine by the 8 cyl just sounds SO EMD! Especially when it idles down to the “rod knock” for lack of a better term.

Jim

[skytop35]

Jim, which sound file did you use for the two locos above? I put 73860 in mine bit the prime mover in the videos above sounds a little throatier.

Also, if you did use 73860, what master volume and prime mover volume did you go with? I seem to have to raise these in mine higher that other locos with the same decoder and speaker. Not sure if file 73860 was created at a lower volume than other files.

Edit: I see now that Skytop did the Decoder install in the second video.

Thanks!

I used sound file #75862

[tehachapifan]

Russ,

I originally had the correct file loaded in mine by the 8 cyl just sounds SO EMD! Especially when it idles down to the “rod knock” for lack of a better term.

Jim

Yeah, the sample sound for the 8cyl sounds really good!

I used sound file #75862

Thanks, Bill! I just reloaded mine with 75862 last night and like it better so far. I originally had 73860 loaded into it, which sounded pretty good but I thought had a bit too quiet of an idle (for me, the idle sound is probably the most important).

Now I just wish ESU had a better P3 horn. I model SP that used tons of P3's but, IMHO, their P3 horn...at least in the Select files...just doesn't sound right and is really low volume as compared to their other horns.

Thanks!

[lajmdlr]

Russ
The speaker & not the sound decoder could be making it not sound right for you.