My SD60M P2K Runs slower than other Athearn and KAtos. Anyway to make it faster?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hey I just bought my first P2K SD60M and I run it DCC, but it runs much slower than my SD70Ms and SD90Macs. Is this the case with this engine and all otehrs like it or can I speed mine up? Maybe it is running at top scale speed for a SD60M? I wonder. Any helpful KNOWLEDGE will be apreciated. Oh by the way it is HO scale and I have a Digitrax Light board that plugs right in and ready to go.

P.S. I changed the speed steps but no difference in top speed. I am aware that wouldnt change that toobut I am just saying.

2

Take a look at MR Dec 2002.
This baby weighs in at 26 ounces. Looks like it tops out at a scale speed of 60 @ 12 volts.

The Athearn SD 70M weighs in at 17 ounces and tops out at a scale speed of 75 @ 12 volts perMR Nov 2002.

The Kato MACs weigh in at 21 ounces and tops out at a scale speed of 76 @ 12 volts perMR
Sept 2002.

3

I’m stepping into something here that I know what to do, but not how to do it so maybe someone with experience can pick this up. One solution would be to regear it to match the speed of your other locos. Ken

4

You could also try splicing in one or two constant lighting kits into the Athearn and Kato engines. These effectively reduces the voltage going to the motors by 1.5 volts each. The engine’s top speed is reduced accordingly and these circuits do not produce the heat that resistance circuits would generate. This would not make the P2k enginer run faster. It would make the other engines run slower.

5

Running DCC, I don’t believe there’s any way to increase the speed, but you can slow the faster units down. Others familiar with DCC can help you if you go that route. Personaly I wouldn’t want to slow down all my roster for just a couple slower ones. My P2K SD-50s run slower than the Atlas and others. I run the 2 SD-50s as leading and run the faster units behind. There has always been discussion as to where the faster ones are placed. My understanding and reasoning is allow the faster unit pull the train and it will run slower, maybe not exact, and the what were slower ones now are out front for the ride or until they are needed as helpers for grade and long turns. This works in may case because I want the newer Chessie SD-50s out front and the GP-40, 38 etc. would run behind as it pulls a coal drag of 30+ loaded hopper cars. Break-in and lube will only increase the speed slightly as I have found w/ my P2K SD-7s that have many hours and years of use. I hope some of this can be of use to you.
Bob K.

6

only way to make engines faster is to regear them

7

There is no need to regear this unit since you are using DCC.Just set the CV value to match your other units…[;)]

8

what i do when i have a locomotive that goes faster than another is to put the faster engine as the lead engine and the slower one as the second engine in a consist…it works and it doesn’t hurt the locomitives …all my locomotives are Athearn and I wouldn’t know about any other type…chuck

9

the P2k SD60’s i have ran at different speeds from new, a good long loaded run loosened them up no problem, look at it this way, slower trains = safer trains[:)]