Need Help w/ a early 40s Varney Docksider

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have my father’s early 40’s ( Pre the 1948 lower frame plate change) Varney Docksider loco. Now this thing has been has taken apart a few times < okay a lots of times. you know when I was a kid, I had to figure out how the thing worked… Anyway , I was able to find all of the parts… The instructions I have say to put the insulated wheels on the left side. Well , all the wheels look the same to me…any clues?,

The motors I have turn/ run once in a while, .wondering if I should get one from Yardbird?

or put it back together and display it as a paperweight?

THANKS

Eric

2

If you can’t tell which wheels are insulated just by looking at them, then you need to acquire a Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter (VOM) so you can measure the resistance between the wheels and axles. No resistance means that wheel is not insulated; high resistance means it is insulated.

A digital VOM can be purchased at Harbor Freight for $2.99 if you have one of those stores near you.

3

Well, you have your choices.

There was a recent thread similar to this one. Look it up for more info that may apply to you.

But for a lot of that stuff, jsut like the real things,the paperweight idea or static display may win out.

4

Tricks from the old days when VOM’s cost real money… use a light bulb with wires. Connect one light bulb wire to a power source (battery, power pack, etc). Connect a wire from the other terminal of the power source to the axle. Touch the second light bulb wire to one or the other driving wheel. The one that makes the light go on is the un-insulated driver.

Actually, you don’t even need that - just take two wires from a power pack, connect one to the axle and brush the other to a wheel. If you get a spark, it’s not insulated. I still do this when I am too lazy to get the meter! The 16v AC side works best.

George V.

5

Most early models used a thin paperlike material between the wheel and tire to insulate a driver set. The wheel casting and tire were two separate pieces, just like on the real thing. This may be visible, or you can notice which side the wheel center seems to be a bit smaller in diameter to allow for this insulation to fit. If it hasn’t been painted, it should be seen as a thin, white line between the tire and wheel.

6

I.WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL FOR THE ADVICE. It doesnt run perfectly, yet. But I think its great that a 60+year old locomotive runs. My father will get a kick out out of it.THANKS AGAIN.

Eric