Hey folks,
I have a 2026 that I would like to slow down by about 30%, as it moves too fast using my 1033. I’ve seen posts here about putting two motors in series, but since this has only one motor… I want to keep the voltage high on the track for the smoke output. Would a big’ol resistor in series with just the motor do the trick? Or is there another method?
Bobby
A resistor in series with the motor would be a bad idea. You would need one of 25 watts or greater and it would generate heat. Your problem is smoke output so I suggest you look at the smoke unit. The Postwar 2026 uses a metal unit with ceramic and mica insulator wound with resistance wire. There is a pad under this that hold the melted smoke pellet… In time this pad becomes caked with solid m-terphenyl and all that material reduces the smoke volume. Parts dealers sell replacement pads and heater elements and some deal in rewound “hotter” heaters.
My own trick is to place the pad in an old spoon and carefully heat it with a Bernzomatic propane torch. blowing across the hot pad produces a room full of old smoke. In time the pad changes from a solid tablet to it’s original soft self… one word of caution… these old pads contain asbestos… so if your squimish about that just replace it.
Just replace them, I would rather spend the 25 cents then get a lungfull of asbestos.
Jerry, have not seen you post lately. I was about to put a APB out for you. Hope all is well and great to see you and your words of wisdom on the forum.
Dennis
A bridge rectifier will do it. You would have to put it between the pickup and the motor but have the pickup to smoke unit direct. They are available from Radio Shack. If interested, I can send you some pictures. Jerry, glad to see you around.
Thanks TrigTrax. I should have mentioned that I need it slowed down because it’s for my 7 year old son who loves SPEED. I want to restrict the speed but keep up the smoke output. I’ve already done the resistor upgrade for the smoke.
Ah yes, a Rectifier. Thanks Chief. I can do that. Because of space restrictions I’ll probably have to make one from four diodes so I can shape it to fit (the area behind the e-unit is taken up by a constant lighting circuit, so It’ll have to fit elsewhere. Any idea how many amps a 2026 motor draws?
Bobby
Bobby, I have a rectifier in mine (not for voltage reduction, but actually for rectification). I used 3-ampere diodes with no problem.
Some locomotives move a little before the e-unit cycles to neutral. If yours has this annoying behavior, you might experiment with leaving the e-unit coil outside the voltage reduction so that it cycles a little earlier.
While you’re mucking around in the locomotive’s wiring, another possible modification for you to consider is directional lighting. You can have it simply by moving the headlight wire from the pickup to one of the motor brushes.
The RMS voltage reduction that you get with paralleled diodes is about 90 percent of the forward drop of the diodes, by the way, for any modest reduction.
One way to slow down an engine without mucking around with it much is to hang every car in the yard on the drawbar. [;)]