Can anyone tell me if it's safe to add about 2 pounds of weights to an RS-3 to help it drag longer consists up a grade. The grade is fairly steep, perhaps 5-6%. Short of doing a lot of reworking of the track layout, the grade is a hard fact of life for this section of track. My RS pulls about 8 cars successfully up the grade, but I'd like it to pull maybe 12-15. Just about everything in the rolling stock is plastic wheels in case anyone is curious.
markperr
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24,603 Posts
RS3's seem to be approximately 240,000 pounds. Scale weight would be 9.84 pounds. I just weighed mine at 8.4 pounds.
So 1.4 pounds additional would take it to scale weight. That's been my limit so far, scale weight.
While the axles are ball bearing, the drive train is not as rugged as the newer Aristo prime mover, and I've had several gearboxes strip a gear or go bad over time.
So,I'd add a pound or a pound and a half. Your grade is too steep to use a single engine with that many cars. You really should double up locos.
Regards, Greg
p.s. my loco is stock with the stock lead weight and stock speaker, and a decoder and a small second speaker in the cab.
So 1.4 pounds additional would take it to scale weight. That's been my limit so far, scale weight.
While the axles are ball bearing, the drive train is not as rugged as the newer Aristo prime mover, and I've had several gearboxes strip a gear or go bad over time.
So,I'd add a pound or a pound and a half. Your grade is too steep to use a single engine with that many cars. You really should double up locos.
Regards, Greg
p.s. my loco is stock with the stock lead weight and stock speaker, and a decoder and a small second speaker in the cab.
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24,603 Posts
I forgot about the REALLY old ones Paul!
Good catch, might give a visual on how to tell the difference.
The simple way is if the axle tips go into the sideframes they are pre-ball bearing.
If the ends of the axle are flush with the wheels and have a philips head screw holding the wheel on, they are ball bearing.
I would not add any weight to a non ball bearing.
Greg
Good catch, might give a visual on how to tell the difference.
The simple way is if the axle tips go into the sideframes they are pre-ball bearing.
If the ends of the axle are flush with the wheels and have a philips head screw holding the wheel on, they are ball bearing.
I would not add any weight to a non ball bearing.
Greg
Joined
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24,603 Posts
Was that about a pound and a half additional after the motor block upgrade Paul?
I'll have to do that, because I have stainless rail and stainless wheels... VERY slippery...
Greg
I'll have to do that, because I have stainless rail and stainless wheels... VERY slippery...
Greg
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