Atlas F unit conversion possibility

I havent done an F unit, but I've done my fair share of GP60s and Dash 8s. 

I usually do it with a donor locomotive. You need a 2 rail model that you want, and any 3 rail model (preferably cheap and with TMCC on board) to swap parts with. If both models are the same road name (this is the easy way), just swap the shells. Sometimes you need to swap the lighting harness in the shell so the plugs match.

If you don't have matching models, it gets a bit more in depth. Some of the detail bits are usually glued into the frame itself, so if you've got a 3R donor thats a different road name, you'll have to transfer everything from 3R frame to the 2R one so the details are the right color. The frames are universal 2/3 rail, all the holes are in them. If you need to move a TMCC board set, make sure you use electrostatic protection (ESD mat, etc...). 

One wrinkle can be the ride height. I dont recall having this issue on the Master locos, probably because of the die cast frame, but on the TM dash 8s (Stamped frame), you need to flip over the motor mount plate on the 3R trucks in order for the fixed pilots to clear the rails. I just finished this one:

This is not a "hard" job, its just fiddly because, true to Atlas form, there's little detail parts everywhere, and many of them are pretty fragile. Careful handling is required but the job can be done with a screw driver, tweezers and a foam cradle. 

Looks like you certainly have some experience, I just got ahold of a DCC equipped 2rail Burlington passenger loco A/B set, I have 3 rail track. My thoughts are to run it dead rail either converted to AC & TMCC or pull the guts out of the B unit for battery room and run dead rail.

My main reservations are those scale wheels navigating Atlas track including double-slip switches etc. Looks like a formidable job but guys like yourself give me traction.

The easiest choice would be to swap the bodies of a 2-rail and a 3-rail model. That would require swapping some wiring for the lights and antenna. 

Andrew

Why not sell it and buy the 3 rail equivalent?

Here's what I did (and I did this over a period of time) : I had a 2 rail Reading Atlas GP35 with TMCC and because TMCC is primarily used by 3 railers I wanted it to be a 3 rail locomotive. I did NOT want to mess with perfectly working electronics. So what I did was I bought a UP Atlas F unit 3 rail dummy. Then I acquired all of the parts I needed to convert the dummy unit to a powered unit. Some of the parts came from Atlas but the motors came from someone parting out a an Atlas locomotive. I installed the parts to get the dummy powered. Then I switched the trucks from both locomotives. I had to paint the truck side frames coming from the GP35 because the UP locomotive should have gray truck side frames. I installed DCC in the UP F unit so I now had a powered 2 rail locomotive with sound. I am not suggesting you do what I did just telling my story.

If I were you and assuming you want to use Kadee style couplers I would just get a hold of a set of Atlas 3 rail locomotive trucks and install them in the locomotive. If you want to use the large Lionel O gauge coupler then it will be more work. You will have to change the front pilot over to the 3 rail pilot. This may require getting parts from Atlas and possibly painting them. Then depending on what system you use be it AC, TMCC, or DCS you will have to gut the locomotive as you mentioned and install your system of choice. If it were me I would just sell the locomotives and buy 3 rail.

Yes your concerns about the track are correct. The scale wheels will give you problems on regular 3 rail track turnouts. However, I have read over on the 3RS forum that there are some modifications you can do to modify the turnouts so the scale wheels will operate on them.

Are the trucks convertible? Can wheelsets be swapped? Or is the truck assembly more or less sealed? I looked for an exploded parts description for these F units with no luck. Doesn’t seem to be a spare parts source. Or is there?

Wouldn't it be a lot simpler just to buy a three-rail unit in the road name that you want? Then sell off the two-rail one to recoup some or all of your investment.

Another thought: the three-rail has swinging pilots and the two-rail does not, the frames may be different also.

Good points all thanks.  I procured an A/B (both powered) 2 rail version at a really good price point in a livery that works to my pike’s taste. The wheel flanges are the discriminating factor. Maybe they are not. Maybe I can work the switch problem out.

I thought that diesel wheel sets would be adaptable similar to freight cars. I figured it would take some work but that there was a reasonable method to get there. Scale pilot couplers are not a problem. I can marry the DCC to a battery powered driver. 

I really see dead rail as the future and this project would allow me to experiment.

That said, if replacing the scale wheels is nightmare, I am staying out of that neighborhood.  That would have me selling my good deal and getting the 3rail version.

Truly appreciate the expert advice.

Larry

@Mainliner posted:

Are the trucks convertible? Can wheelsets be swapped? Or is the truck assembly more or less sealed? I looked for an exploded parts description for these F units with no luck. Doesn’t seem to be a spare parts source. Or is there?

 

Unfortunately, the trucks are difficult to convert because the Atlas trucks have (captured) axles. That’s why I suggested getting Atlas 3 rail trucks. They don’t come with a motor or side frames. Those are separate but you don’t need those parts. All you need is the truck block with 3 rail wheels in it and center roller. If you swap wheel sets you will still have to obtain a center roller.  I believe Atlas sells the truck block with the wheel sets in it so no sense swapping wheel sets. Call Atlas for the parts. At least they used to have them. 

That sounds like the solution. When I looked at their web site the F unit parts listing did not show the truck block as a choice. You would think that that would be a desired part to offer. Lot of those F units out there.

Are there any shops/individuals that would have these truck blocks outside of Atlas itself? 

You might try P&D Hobby in Michigan.  They are well known for F unit parts.

Chuck

OK I’ll give them a shout tomorrow. And also Atlas. I checked all the aisles at Walmart and came up getting hired...............

But no F3 trucks!