2Railing An Weaver VO-1000 Doable?

[2railjon]

Doable or cost prohibitive?
Thanks for any insight!!

[sarge]

That would be Weaver, not Atlas.

Didn't they do them in two-rail? If so, buy one, swop the shells, and sell off the three-rail one.

I did a quick eBay look and see that MTH did them, too. Any idea which you have?

[2railjon]

I know it’s not MTH, as it had TMCC boards in it. Must be a Weaver, my bad!
That said, I’d rather not spend 3 or 4 hundred on an engine if I can can get the wheels 2 Railed for less. I can figure the rest out.

[ScaleCraft]

Three pole tinplate motor or 5 pole? Me? I wouldn't expect smooth low speed (switcher?!?!) from a 3 pole, but, hey, that's just my personal experience.

Had someone on these forums a couple of years ago try it.....could not find a cheap 2 rail unit to use for parts.

Than, one wonders if the drives are different. Of course, if you DO find a 2-rail version, you can just swap out the frame complete along with TMCC and sell the resultant abomination off to some unsuspecting 3-railer.

[bob turner]

But if you buy 2-rail and sell 3-rail, shouldn't you come out roughly even, not counting shipping? Try listing it on the OGR Wanted section as a trade.

Yeah, it is possible to 2-rail it - but if you have someone else do it, $400 would not even be close - unless drop-in wheelsets can be purchased.

[Jay Criswell]

Jon,

What id the diameter of the axles?

Jay

[2railjon]

Jay, I’ll post a measurement at lunch today.

[2railjon]

Ok, axle diameter is:


I’m thinking if it’s possible to get 2 Rail wheels they should be thinner which will allow me to put nylon washers between the wheels and frame to prevent shorts. Especially a washer between the brass gears next to the wheels.

[2railjon]

Three pole tinplate motor or 5 pole? Me? I wouldn't expect smooth low speed (switcher?!?!) from a 3 pole, but, hey, that's just my personal experience.

Had someone on these forums a couple of years ago try it.....could not find a cheap 2 rail unit to use for parts.

Than, one wonders if the drives are different. Of course, if you DO find a 2-rail version, you can just swap out the frame complete along with TMCC and sell the resultant abomination off to some unsuspecting 3-railer.

The TMCC boards were fried anyway, so a trade is out of the question. 5 pole or 3 pole doesn’t matter on my layout as there are no slow speed switching operations. We drink beer in the engines cab and highball to the next town!

[Jay Criswell]

Jon,

Would have preferred inches or mm down to the 3 or 4 decimal but 3/6" will work for now. Are the axles shouldered down where the wheel is pressed on? We could always machine new insulators and install them in NWSL 40" wheels that have been bored out (NO, not drilled).

Jay

[2railjon]

Jay, I can do mm’s!


Let me beat a wheel off to see if they’re shouldered!
Be back in a minute!

[2railjon]

Shouldered.

[2railjon]

Jay, if those measurements are something you think is workable, PM me a price and I’ll send you the trucks. I can do the wipers and electrics from there unless you have an NWSL wheel set number then I can try to tackle it! Thank you for your input!

[Jay Criswell]

Jon,

It looks doable. May, or may not, reuse the old axles. Insulate all wheels or just one side. Not sure if not insulating all wheels will create a problem, or not. I really would depend if the trucks are electrically isolated from the frame.

I ordered 200 40" wheels from NWSL a while back. The good news, they only back ordered half of them. I'll take whatever they send.

Price? I dunno, wouldn't be all that much if we just machine the wheels to fit the factory axles.

Jay

[2railjon]

Jay, I’m thinking insulate ALL wheels and then nylon axle washers between non geared axle sides and frame, then nylon washers between axles gear sides and wheel. The reason being that geared wheels are on opposite sides of the frame.


Then I can use contact wipers to pickup power from the insulated wheels to motors and lighting.
Let me know if this makes any sense! I’m looking at it from rookie perspective and would rather be schooled correctly!