I’ve purchased an MDC box cab loco that I plan to use on my switching layout, but the motor and drive train are not going to cut it. Can anyone offer advice on how to rig the thing for slow, smooth, silent running?
I have been to the NWSL web site and they do not offer a kit for this locomotive. Nor have I been able to find another locomotive chassis that comes close to the box cab’s short wheelbase (not even a GE 44 tonner).
Can anyone save me from a major engineering project?
Thanks.
P.S. What would be a reasonable gear ratio to shoot for considering the loco’s 42" wheels?
NWSL does offer gears for the MDC box cab, telephone them.
A properly tuned MDC box cab runs very slowly and smoothly. It is not quiet though, due to the design of the transmission, and the motor is spinning at very high rpm.
NWSL I think still makes a 22mm by 16mm motor, this will fit just fine. You will have to cut of one end of the shaft because it is a double end shaft. To get the trans to quiet down you have to add some thrust washers between the gears to take up some of the slack. Then put some grease in the gear box that is safe on plastics. Don’t use oil if you can.
I rebuilt a MDC bax cab diesel some years back, it takes allot work to get it to quiet down but it can be done.
Yeah I’m in the same boat. I need to do a little more than just clean up the driveline though, the MDC model is really only accurate for the very first one built, CNJ1000. I saved some pictures of the modified version to match one of the two the Reading had, and in addition to making it run better I want to do the shell mods to make a more accurate model. That one’s WAY on my back burner.
Thanks to all who offered suggestions and comments about repowering the MDC boxcab. I’ll give NWSL a call on monday. Won’t be the first (or last) time I’ve been led astray by a manufacturer’s website.
If I’m successful with the repowering project, I’ll post the results.