For my first post I’m asking if anyone has sucessfully repowered an SW1. The trucks are the big stumbling block. Walthers doesn’t have any. The Kato NW2 trucks look good, but how does one mount the worm? It looks like I’ll have to wait for some manufacturer to release another one. Thanks for any comments.
Jim
Welcome to the forum. I don’t know anything about brass but somebody should.
You will need to know the manufactuer, and then you can check out the Northwest Short Line web site. Send them an email and they should be able to fix you up with new gears and a motor. As you have found out, the SW1 gear towers are inboard and different that the larger SW or NW type engines.
Jim
Hi Jim,
have you looked at the simple approach? Buy a P2K SW and add the brass shell to it. O’d brass diesels tended to run horribly, and swapping out ALL the guys would be a cheap and time-effective solution. Keep the original chassis if you ever want to sell off the brass engine.
The problem is that the SW1 had a body so much shorter than the other EMD or EMC switchers that I suspect frames intended for an SW1200 or whatever are unlikely to fit without some major modifications. And if that includes having to “de-power” the front truck the game is not worth the candle.
Dave Nelson
I’ve looked at P2K, Atlas and Athearn trucks and none will fit. It has to have the gear tower in the centre, like the Kato. But I can’t see how to mount a worm on a Kato.
Jim
Jim - Who made/imported the model? Usually the maker is stamped on the bottom of the gear box - you should see something like KMT or KTM…
Jim Bernier
It’s made by Alco Models with KMT trucks. I don’t want to regear it, I want to replace the trucks. I thought perhaps there might be some obscure manufacturer that made suitable trucks. If you don’t ask, you will never know. I’ve repowered seven other brass diesels with parts from Atlas, Kato and Stewart and they run beautiful. I just have to find a solution for the SW1. Thanks to all who’ve answered.
Jim
Any chance of using the Atlas or Athearn trucks by swaping the worm and worm clip around so they point the other way (ie so the tower is inboard)?
You probaly already thought of that tho but worth asking [%-)]
I could. But then only 1 truck would be powered. It probably would have a hard time pulling itself. If you turn both trucks around, there’s no room for the motor.
Jim
Why not just by a Walthers SW-1 on E bay. They usually go for under $50.00 and lower if lousy paint. Just throw the body away and pop the brass one on after any modifications for it to fit
Or SPUD types, any of those that would work?
Oh well, I’ll work something out. Thanks again for your ideas.