Lionel CSA-2 Brass Hybrid Challenger Arrived

Impressive thanks for sharing.

@zhubl posted:

this is hear just as some information for curious minds we don’t need another bashing thread,

Well done post Zachariah. Descriptive, concise with great photos.

Very informative and helpful to those who purchased these.

I have to wonder about this dogbone being almost out of the joint, I'd expect some rough running.

4 digit addressing is internal to the main board, this board is the Bluetooth board, note the BT antenna.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I have to wonder about this dogbone being almost out of the joint, I'd expect some rough running.

4 digit addressing is internal to the main board, this board is the Bluetooth board, note the BT antenna.

Yes definitely a rough running with the drive like that. That was with one motor mount screw missing and the other very loose. I never ran it like that so no telling how rough it would’ve been.

John I thought the same thing that was the Bluetooth board but if you look under the wires you can see the integrated Bluetooth board with its own antenna on the LCP3 board

is that new board just another Bluetooth radio strictly for stuff with the new Base 3? Maybe not necessarily 4 digit addressing, it’s just the radio board didn’t look any different than usual either so that’s what made me think that.

While you're in there I would replace the circled item with a Pittman .

@zhubl posted:

is that new board just another Bluetooth radio strictly for stuff with the new Base 3? Maybe not necessarily 4 digit addressing, it’s just the radio board didn’t look any different than usual either so that’s what made me think that.

Well, their two-way communication capability is bound to require a Bluetooth back-channel, so maybe that's it.  I'm sure that the two-way communication ain't going over the track.

I'd be thrilled if they would specify more lubrication in the gear boxes.  This is a disturbing trend.

@zhubl posted:

As is from factory

all the grease removed from the rear gear box

with that find I moved to the front engine. It was better but still not much

this is the front engine after removing as much as possible and putting it in the top plate.

Where is the front bearing?! What a joke! For a $2000 locomotive?

The chances that I preorder a PRR M1 or get an I1sa just keep dwindling…

@rplst8 posted:

Where is the front bearing?! What a joke! For a $2000 locomotive?

The chances that I preorder a PRR M1 or get an I1sa just keep dwindling…

There is definitely a front bearing I just simply had it sitting out of frame, I didn't need it jumping off the worm and disappearing into a abyss

@zhubl posted:

There is definitely a front bearing I just simply had it sitting out of frame, I didn't need it jumping off the worm and disappearing into a abyss

Actually gremlins would have moved it never to see it again………..”so that’s were all my 7/16 wrenches went”

lmao

Thanks for sharing the pics and videos, Zach!

I didn't order one, but so far, this looks like a solid locomotive.

Now to wait for no. 90.

@zhubl posted:

Yes definitely a rough running with the drive like that. That was with one motor mount screw missing and the other very loose. I never ran it like that so no telling how rough it would’ve been.

John I thought the same thing that was the Bluetooth board but if you look under the wires you can see the integrated Bluetooth board with its own antenna on the LCP3 board

is that new board just another Bluetooth radio strictly for stuff with the new Base 3? Maybe not necessarily 4 digit addressing, it’s just the radio board didn’t look any different than usual either so that’s what made me think that.

Did tightening up the motor mount pull in the motor towards the gear box and take up that excessive slack in the dog bone?…..after you tightened up the motor mount, did you check to see how much end play was between the cups?….I’ve had quite a few Legacy big steam that I’ve had to build a better driveshaft ( dog bone) because even with the motor mount tight, the end play was just too excessive IMO, ….a before & after shot would’ve been handy,……

Pat

@Lou1985 posted:

While you're in there I would replace the circled item with a Pittman .

The UPS man wouldn’t even be done his route before we evicted that thing, …..huh ol buddy?

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

The UPS man wouldn’t even be done his route before we evicted that thing, …..huh ol buddy?

Pat

I'd at least put the locomotive on the track and make sure it worked first, before I replaced the motor.

@Lou1985 posted:

I'd at least put the locomotive on the track and make sure it worked first, before I replaced the motor.

All of 3 feet?….😉

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

All of 3 feet?….😉

Pat

Nah. Run it on rollers, motor swap, then ready to hit actual rails. 

@harmonyards posted:

Did tightening up the motor mount pull in the motor towards the gear box and take up that excessive slack in the dog bone?…..after you tightened up the motor mount, did you check to see how much end play was between the cups?….I’ve had quite a few Legacy big steam that I’ve had to build a better driveshaft ( dog bone) because even with the motor mount tight, the end play was just too excessive IMO, ….a before & after shot would’ve been handy,……

Pat

My bad Pat I didn’t even think of an after picture. I was honestly shocked when John pointed out how loose it was because I specifically remember when I was done it was actually pretty tight in the cups very little horizontal movement

You know guys I don’t doubt the Pittmans being superior to the Canons but I have yet to have an issue with any of my locomotives with Canons if I do you can bet I’ll hit Pat up for a Pittman.

you know I’ve seen a Ametek building out by Sprit Aerosystems as I go between jobs. Doubt I could get any motors out of them with out selling a limb.

@zhubl posted:

You know guys I don’t doubt the Pittmans being superior to the Canons but I have yet to have an issue with any of my locomotives with Canons if I do you can bet I’ll hit Pat up for a Pittman.

you know I’ve seen a Ametek building out by Sprit Aerosystems as I go between jobs. Doubt I could get any motors out of them with out selling a limb.

You said a mouthful right there, …….the rep from Ametek actually came out & visited me, …but it took him all of 30 seconds to say thanks, but no thanks,….

Pat