I have an Athern Blue Box Prr PA1 engine that I would love to get going. It does not have any motor/fly wheels and I would have to double check as to what else. IT does have the powered trucksat least.
What other frames are there from another series or maker that is enterchangeble with this frame? Any info would be helpful. I do have a box full of fly wheels misc parts and motors and can find a motor in there but not sure if they work (alll untested) and no driveshafts.
I remotored an Athearn Blue Box PA-1 and it’s mate PB-1 with Canon EN-22D motors. I used the Athearn flywheels on the Canon motors and both run very nice. I went with NWSL universals so there is absolutely no vibration. I mounted the motors with Amazing Goop, that also absorbs vibration and sound. I added 8 ounces of weight to each locomotive, silent and powerful.
I installed Digitrax DH-126 decoders in them and both run very good off my MRC Prodigy Advance.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.b
OK, so, your statement " IT does have the trucksat least.", you mean it has the “powered trucks” with the gears and metal wheels, worm gear, housing and all?, including the drive shaft coupling ? If not, you need to start there, by installing powered trucks. On “Dummy” truck parts, on an Athearn, there are no gears, no electrical connections, and plastic wheels.
If it does have complete powered trucks, than the motor, and the fly wheels can be made to fit, if they are Athearn motors, or from another manufacturer, but if not Athearn motors, you might have to do what Mel has done. Then you need to get the right drive shaft parts to make it work, and connect to the trucks. The “dog bone” type drive shafts are a lot quieter, than the “spline type” shafts.
And your statement: “and by like geoffry and have one put together from like 5 different companies.”, I’m not quite sure what you exactly mean, and who geoffry is. I think I know who you mean, but not sure.
Mike.
Must mean “frankendiesels” built by our late member Jeff, the diner is renamed for. He had a way to fab scrap and spare parts to make just about anything work
Sent You an E-Mail…Sean.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Sean,
I did save it…I’ll get back with You when I get a chance to look at the parts…
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Thanks Frank.
Hello all,
There is a guy in Florida that deals in Athern blue box stuff.
I powered the B-unit of my rotary snow plow with his componenets.
On e-Bay his selling name is “Mr Muffin Man.” His given name is Terry. I’ve had great dealings with him and he’s very fair.
You can shoot him a message via e-Bay and tell him what your are trying to do and see if he can help.
Hope this helps.
You can try Proto Power West.
I found a couple of motors and was curios if they would work. I am interested in the feed back.
The motors are:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121877540861?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/262421205053?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Thanks everyone.
Kind of a toss-up, with out more pictures of the first one. The second one appears to be set up for the dog bone style drive shaft, which I think run better, and quieter, but, the spline type shaft, which is what the parts sheet that Frank sent you shows, would be a little more forgiving and easier, and that also depends how what type of drive shaft connection your trucks have.
Mike.
Sean,
Sad to say, My Athearn spare parts are running slim. Now I wish I did not give that motor and drive line to My friend in the UK…He needed it badly though…I did not know You at the time. I don’t remember if I gave You the worm gear assembly for those trucks, that go on top of them…if I did, You can take off the spline fitting and replace with a dog-bone fitting should You have trouble finding the spline set-up. I believe that is what the fly wheels (dog bone) have in the links You gave. Athearn has the exact motor and others in stock. Also they have a lot of the drive line parts, worm gears with bushings, all sizes dog bones etc. that You can order if You want to get that engine running again. Everything I just mentioned, they have instock and where You would get them from is in CA. so it’s right in Your back yard. I’ll still keep checking to see what I have left and keep You informed. Here’s is the link to the Athearn Motor and once on the site, just click parts to see what they have. Also You may call them and ask about a part that You may need, just give them the part number that is on the instructions…I did that before and found them to have a lot of spare parts in stock for older engines that they did not list and ones that will work.
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH84086
I’ll keep in touch…feel free to Email Me anytime.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Frank, Your friend at the time needed it and you helps him. Its ok that we didnt meet sooner. The engine is a beauty and it sucks seeing it sit in the box and not pulling something. I know I wont get out what I put into it but I dont plan on getting Rid of it either. I will keep in touch and anytime your in California stop on by.
Hi Sean,
You wrote “What other frames are there from another series or maker that is enterchangeble with this frame? Any info would be helpful. I do have a box full of fly wheels misc parts and motors and can find a motor in there but not sure if they work (alll untested) and no driveshafts.”
If you have a double sided motor and your trucks have a worm drive and you do not have the Athearn universals, you can couple the motor to the worm drives by silicon tube used for model aircraft fuel line. I have recently used a Bachmann can motor in an Athearn drive on a GP38 as the Mashima and Sagami motors here in Australia are not cheap. To test your motors, just solder on some wires and test. Contact me off list if you are not sure or want a pic or two!
Cheers from Australia
Trevor