Hi all,
I have an upper level that has 2 loops and I run 2 trains on each track. It took quite a bit of testing with different locos and consists to get the timing correct. I use a stop block, sensor and relay for each loop connected to a single Arduino Nano.
Let me digress for a minute. While trying to figure out the timing on the 2nd loop (got the first loop running good) i was running out of options for locos. I decided to grab the 20.00 217 (no B unit) that I picked up at a garage sale and give that a try. Holy cow, the timing was great.
So here is where I am stuck. The 217 was on the wrong chassis and had a horn. There was bad battery damage. I pulled the horn and saved it (good condition and working) and was able to remove the horn relay and throw it away (it was shot). The chassis has some pretty decent rust on the horn relay side, but things still work well.
So now I have a good running 217 with a half rusted frame. Ok, no problem, as there is a frame with headlight bracket on the Bay for 17.00 in pretty much perfect condition and is the correct frame for the 217. Then I realized that the bushings are bad in the power truck and possibly the axles are slightly bent. When I run it slow I can see that the wheels have a little wobble and when I grab the axles there is quite a bit of play between both axles and bushings.
Is this worth fixing up? Can you get bushings? My repair book (Greenberg 7th edition) does not break down the power truck unless I was not looking in the correct spot.
It does run nicely (cleaned, lubed, brushes, springs, etc) and the e-unit works great and the shell is unbroken and in good condition, but that slight wobble as it moves along and knowing the bushings are shot makes me crazy. lol.
I am just not sure what to do at this point. I want a 200 series A-B as it times perfectly to the other train on the same track. There are only a couple A-B units unfortunately. I'm not a big A-A fan for whatever reason.
My only real options are the 217, 226 and 229. I already have a 2243 A-B and a 2343 A-A Sante Fe, so I do not want another Sante FE warbonet scheme.
I will post in the Buy\Sell section, but if anyone reading this has one of these units in decent condition they want to sell I would be interested. I also have a 1688 (no "E") that is in pretty good shape if anyone was interested in a partial trade + cash. The Bay doesn't really have anything I am interested in currently.
Any help would be appreciated!!
Mike
