SGL brass Reading G3 Heavy Pacific mods ....Tales From Harmon Shops

You know what I like best about all these Harmon Shop posts? Steam, steam, glorious steam. That sure is a snug fit in there Pat. Reminds me of a couple of years ago at the park playing horseshoes with my brother and cousins. I got a ringer(I'm terrible) and my brother had to top my ringer or knock out to win. Well, he topped mine, and won because it also knocked out mine. Also, he's a great player. No idea how you got in there, must be like that horseshoe, sneaky.

Nice job! Is there enough room to slip a tach reader on the flywheel?

Chris

@lehighline posted:

Nice job! Is there enough room to slip a tach reader on the flywheel?

Chris

There’s plenty of room to mount a sensor on the bottom if needed,....this one will remain conventional,....so no sensor needed,..

Pat

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

You know what I like best about all these Harmon Shop posts? Steam, steam, glorious steam.

I like the peace of mind I get knowing that if I ever have a problem someone can fix it.

We have more qualified/ talented techs on this forum than all of the manufacturers put together. No need to sit on hold either.

Another interesting mod thread Pat! Your delivery is like reading a good book.

I'll be following along.

@RickO posted:

I like the peace of mind I get knowing that if I ever have a problem someone can fix it.

We have more qualified/ talented techs on this forum than all of the manufacturers put together. No need to sit on hold either.

Another interesting mod thread Pat! Your delivery is like reading a good book.

I'll be following along.

Agree with you Rick on those among us who can fix it and the talent. Always seeing what was to what should be is amazing indeed. Watching these engines get fixed up in such a way is awesome!

Thanks fellas,....this one was kinda weird, ....I can’t wrap my head around the fact that this thing is such a fine model, and yet they skimped or skipped on a flywheel ...especially with a belt drive,.....from what I’ve been told, the fella that made SGL was anti-flywheel .....I can not confirm it or deny it, but it sure needs one......before the flywheel install, when the throttle was turned down to stop, this thing would lock up tight,.......

Pat

Harmonyards, I've got one of these new in the box that has never hit the rails.  Just sent you an e-mail about a possible flywheel/TMCC upgrade, and looking forward to your response.  Either way, this is fascinating stuff.  Always something interesting on the forum!

Okay Pat I know that I should probably know this after being on this forum for so long but what does SGL stand for? I can't figure it out.

Pat, that is awesome! Incredible work. I always liked those locomotives but I never bought one. I got a soft spot for the Reading.

@E-UNIT-79 posted:

Okay Pat I know that I should probably know this after being on this forum for so long but what does SGL stand for? I can't figure it out.

SGL Lines is a small brass O scale importer based out of Chesapeake Va.......very detailed brass locomotives.....outward appearance right on par with the big brass importers. The one I’m working on is Korean made....factory Pittman powered. To me, they seem a little clunky in the mechanical dept., but we’ll sort all of that out,...otherwise, a fairly well built machine,....as I mentioned before, and this is all hear-say, so don’t take it as gospel, the fella that did the builds, didn’t put much emphasis in flywheels, seems to be the biggest Achilles Heel, .....

Pat

Where's the running video?

@Lou1985 posted:

Where's the running video?

Impatient is this one, hmmm??......quoted from Yoda,...😆

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

SGL Lines is a small brass O scale importer based out of Chesapeake Va.......very detailed brass locomotives.....outward appearance right on par with the big brass importers. The one I’m working on is Korean made....factory Pittman powered. To me, they seem a little clunky in the mechanical dept., but we’ll sort all of that out,...otherwise, a fairly well built machine,....as I mentioned before, and this is all hear-say, so don’t take it as gospel, the fella that did the builds, didn’t put much emphasis in flywheels, seems to be the biggest Achilles Heel, .....

Pat

Thank you Pat. I'll keep my eyes open for that manufacturer at the next train show when we get back to having them. I'm sure you'll work your magic with this one too. Waiting for the video.

Since Pat started this thread I thought I'd better check in to keep him honest.  It's my engine he is giving the make-over.  As far as SGL is concerned, he is correct.  It was a small importer, however I think the Reading G-3 and five car trains, the King Coal and the Schuylkill, were their only products.  They never made anything after those as far as I can determine.  The engine came in two road numbers, 210 and 219.  Pat already commented on the engine, it and the coaches are excellent matches to the drawings I have in my files.  Coaches are brass, 72 scale feet as the prototype.  I have every confidence I will be getting a great engine back when he finishes.  I'm looking forward to following the thread and getting the engine back at the head end of my King Coal.  Presently I'm using a Trainmaster to power the train, but that's ok, the Reading did also.  However I will bump the diesel to put steam back on the head end.

Here’s you video Lou,....🤣🤣🤣.....

          This is a test on the rollers to set the belt tension, and check the smoothness of the drivetrain,....I did add shims to the gearbox tonight....there’s a lot of shaft walk from the factory, the lost motion was really noticeable........the motor would turn the shaft, but going from forward to reverse, you could watch the shaft screw in and out before it turned a driver.....Pittman motor shims were a perfect fit for the shaft end play,..those of you that own these, check that shaft end play,....I settled on a total of .003......this still lets the shaft “float” on the bearings, but removes virtually all the lost motion,.....note on the video, I don’t have the belt retainer ring on the end of the cog pulley as I’m still optimizing belt tension,.....

Pat

SGL stands for Samual G Lenhart. He and his son were heavily involved in the production of the 2 G3s and the two 5car trains. For whatever the reason, Sam was anti-flywheel. Maybe b/c he was really old school? I don't know. I'm still trying to run the story down on these 2 sets. They ARE drop dead gorgeous, and must haves, especially if you are a Reading steam fan!

Chris

LVHR

Well there's the video that proves the flywheel works .

Belt could be a little tighter but it seems to be in the ball park. Looks pretty similar to a 3rd rail drive mechanism.

@Lou1985 posted:

Well there's the video that proves the flywheel works .

Belt could be a little tighter but it seems to be in the ball park. Looks pretty similar to a 3rd rail drive mechanism.

Not so fast sunshine, ....this locomotive’s worm shaft has the cog pulley hanging out in the middle of nowhere,....too much tension binds the shaft up,....the hanger bearing is closer to the gear box than it is to the cog pulley,....

Pat

Crank it down till it stalls, back off. Like timing belt tension