Hello all.
I have an N scale Life Like Cotton Belt GP-40 that runs at about half the speed of the Atlas Southern Pacific GP-40-2 that I’d like to run it with. Can someone tell me how I might possibly boost its speed up to that of the Atlas, or slow the Atlas down to the speed of the Life Like without having to go DCC ?. I’ve even considered buying another Atlas GP-40-2 and trading the shells out with the Life Like if all else fails…
Thanks.
Tracklayer
Install a resistor in-line to the faster locos motor. I’m sure one of the electronic guru’s here will be able to tell you what type.
I believe the Life Like model would be one of those ancient Mehano drives from the 70’s. Your best bet will be to place it carefully in the driveway, and back over it with the station wagon on your way to the hobby store to buy another Atlas engine. When you get home, sweep up the bits and use them to model a scrap yard scene. I wouldn’t even worry about salvaging the shell.
Lee
No Lee. It’s only a couple of years old. Alone, it runs very well, but when I put any other loco on the track with it the other loco is usually always faster…
Like I said in my original post, if someone can tell me how to speed it up a bit or slow one of the others down a little that would be great.
Tracklayer
Does it have a metal split frame? If so, LL motors do run at a lower top speed than Atlas, even the newer Atlas with the “scale speed” motors. It may be a difference in the gearing.
A couple of possible fixes… Get a replacement motor from Atlas, and retro fit it into the LL mechanism. If it’s a split frame, again, they’ll be virtually identical. Just specify a replacement motor for a GP40 so the drive shaft is roughly the same length.
If you have plastic frame with lead blobs, it’s an older Life Like mechanism, which probably won’t keep you happy for very long anyway. They do run nice and smoothly, but the way the wired contacts are designed, they are terribly unreliable over the long term. Also, check the model again… Life Like has produced GP 38-2 in both split frame and plastic frame varieties, as well as a GP-50 I think. I don’t believe they’ve done a GP-40 since they imported the Mehano junk years ago (that’s why I thought that might be what you have…)
Anyway, a photo of the undercarriage will go a long way to help identify the problem.
Lee
Hi there Tracklayer,
I wonder if your power pack does not have enough current capability. What it sounds like is that your engines when run together draw more than the power pack can supply. As the current is limited, the loco which requires more power is a little starved ( or in your case a “lottle” starved and cannot run at its normal speed, therefore slows up.
See if you can borrow a higher end power pack and try out the two together and see if it makes a difference.
While I’m not very familiar with what is available in the US (I’ve built my own power packs for the last 30 years or so) I’m sure that there are packs with plenty of grunt.
Regards
Trevor www.xdford.digitalzones.com FYI
Yes Lee. I believe it is a split frame. I may just try the “retro fit” suggestion. Like I said earlier, I had also considered buying another Atlas GP-40-2 and trading the shells out.
Tracklayer
Hello Trevor, and thanks for your input. If all else fails I may just try your advice. One never knows for sure until they try…
Tracklayer