Varney Dockside
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At one time these locos were everywhere, Now I don't seem them discussed.
Anyone still running on of these oldies but goodies? Have you upgraded the motor/drivetrain?
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Bob Macklin <macklinbob@...>
I've been collecting some to build a few for operating.
I got one on eBay that looks like it was assembled but never run. The flashing on the boiler had not been removed and the worm was not engaged.
I think it's in about a 1955 box.
Bob Macklin
Seattle, Wa.
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Roger Aultman
I bought one on eBay because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it had a gearbox, can motor and DCC decoder. It runs OK but tends to stall easily. Roger Aultman
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Bob Macklin <macklinbob@...>
The Dockside stalling is a normal problem. Just give the layout a good kick.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Bob Macklin Seattle, Wa.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Aultman" <raul@...> To: <HO-Steam@groups.io> Sent: Friday, March 02, 2018 7:17 PM Subject: Re: [HO-Steam] Varney Dockside I bought one on eBay because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it
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Jon Miller
On 3/2/2018 9:15 PM, Bob Macklin
wrote:
The Dockside stalling is a normal problem Try and find a place to put a
keep-alive! -- Jon Miller For me time stopped in 1941 Digitrax Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI User SPROG User NMRA Life member #2623 Member SFRH&MS
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Bob Macklin <macklinbob@...>
The Dockside is particularly prone to stalling on turnouts
Bob Macklin
Seattle, Wa.
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Victor Bitleris
Yeah, this one would be a good candidate for a TCS WOW with KA. It would be a tight squeeze, but has been done by others. I am guessing that it mostly stalls on insulated frogs on turnouts and crossings. It shouldn't stall on regular track or powered frogs. One of these days I intend to do that. I have a can motor for mine, but plan on keeping the original gearing. Regards, Vic B.
Vic Bitleris Raleigh, NC
From: HO-Steam@groups.io <HO-Steam@groups.io> on behalf of Roger Aultman <raul@...>
Sent: Friday, March 2, 2018 10:17 PM To: HO-Steam@groups.io Subject: Re: [HO-Steam] Varney Dockside I bought one on eBay because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it had a gearbox, can motor and DCC decoder. It runs OK but tends to stall easily. Roger Aultman
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Bob Macklin <macklinbob@...>
I had an English/Bowser Dockside back in the 90's. I put a can motor in it. It pulled better with the original open frame motor.
The Dockside should only pull a few cars.
Bob Macklin
Seattle, Wa.
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Wayne Long
On 3/2/2018 10:17 PM, Roger Aultman wrote:
I bought one on eBay because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it had a gearbox, can motor and DCC decoder. It runs OK but tends to stall easily. Roger AultmanNo surprise, Roger. It has only 4 wheels and they are close together. The prototype was not dependent on track power to operate. Make sure the wheels are clean and the track has no dead frogs. Or, you will have to add stay alive capacitance. (Where do you put it?) Wayne Long
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Roger Aultman
--
That would be a challenge. Roger Aultman -- Wayne Long <acl-wayne@...> wrote: ============= On 3/2/2018 10:17 PM, Roger Aultman wrote: I bought one on eBay because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it had a gearbox, can motor and DCC decoder. It runs OK but tends to stall easily. Roger AultmanNo surprise, Roger. It has only 4 wheels and they are close together. The prototype was not dependent on track power to operate. Make sure the wheels are clean and the track has no dead frogs. Or, you will have to add stay alive capacitance. (Where do you put it?) Wayne Long
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Roger Aultman
--
I think the brass tired drivers contributed also. Roger Aultman -- Victor Bitleris <bitlerisvj@...> wrote: ============= Yeah, this one would be a good candidate for a TCS WOW with KA. It would be a tight squeeze, but has been done by others. I am guessing that it mostly stalls on insulated frogs on turnouts and crossings. It shouldn't stall on regular track or powered frogs. One of these days I intend to do that. I have a can motor for mine, but plan on keeping the original gearing. Regards, Vic B. Vic Bitleris Raleigh, NC ________________________________ From: HO-Steam@groups.io <HO-Steam@groups.io> on behalf of Roger Aultman <raul@...> Sent: Friday, March 2, 2018 10:17 PM To: HO-Steam@groups.io Subject: Re: [HO-Steam] Varney Dockside I bought one on eBay because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it had a gearbox, can motor and DCC decoder. It runs OK but tends to stall easily. Roger Aultman
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This may be akin to putting lipstick on a pig, but anyone ever try having the drivers nickle plated?
There used to be a model RR supplier who did it for $10 an axle. A lower cost alternative: I do not clean my loco drivers with a wire wheel in a Dremel or a Kadee brass wire wheel cleaner. I use a 400 grit polishing wheel in a Dremel to polish the driver tread and remove the dirt collecting scratches from cleaning by wire. For regular cleaning after that all it takes is a Q-tip dipped in alcohol. ken clark
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Jon Miller
On 3/3/2018 9:25 AM, Roger Aultman
wrote:
because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it had a gearbox, can motor and DCC decoder It appears that you got one that someone spent some time rebuilding. I seem to remember that Varney sold a valve gear kit as an extra for this engine. However gearbox and can motor were never with this engine. Of course DCC was not even thought of then, let alone PCs. I would like to see
some pictures of the motor, gearbox, etc. Sounds
interesting. -- Jon Miller For me time stopped in 1941 Digitrax Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI User SPROG User NMRA Life member #2623 Member SFRH&MS
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Bob Macklin <macklinbob@...>
There is a silver plating powder that can be used to plate the wheels.
Detail Associates used to sell it but no more.
Google "Cool-Amp". It's a bit pricey but a small jar will last a life time.
Bob Macklin
Seattle, Wa.
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There was also a Zamac imported from Japan Dockside with a brass mechanism
and an all brass import as well. The valve gear was a Kemtron part and I believe is still in the PSC catalog. -- ken clark
HO and Sn42
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Victor Bitleris
Most Keep Alive devices I am aware of pertain to DCC. I don't know how you would do that with DC, but I would bet someone know. As I recall, Earl Smallshaw had one that used capacitors under the cab for something like
this. The capacitors were made to look like air tanks.
Vic Bitleris Raleigh, NC
From: HO-Steam@groups.io <HO-Steam@groups.io> on behalf of Wayne Long <acl-wayne@...>
Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2018 12:15 PM To: HO-Steam@groups.io Subject: Re: [HO-Steam] Varney Dockside On 3/2/2018 10:17 PM, Roger Aultman wrote: > I bought one on eBay because it has the valve gear, much to my surprise it had a gearbox, can motor and DCC decoder. It runs OK but tends to stall easily. Roger Aultman No surprise, Roger. It has only 4 wheels and they are close together. The prototype was not dependent on track power to operate. Make sure the wheels are clean and the track has no dead frogs. Or, you will have to add stay alive capacitance. (Where do you put it?) Wayne Long > > > >
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Jon Miller
On 3/3/2018 11:04 AM, Victor
Bitleris wrote:
I don't know how you would do that with DC The loco we are talking about (the one Roger Aultman got on eBay) has a decoder in it. -- Jon Miller For me time stopped in 1941 Digitrax Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI User SPROG User NMRA Life member #2623 Member SFRH&MS
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Victor Bitleris
Actually the zamac import was a Sakura, a beautiful model that came with the valve gear. These go for very high prices when you can find one these days. Also for the Varney Little Joe, there were 3 versions of valve gear, Central Valley (I have that one), Kemtron, and yep, Varney. Central Valley also made valve gear for the English Yardbird. Kemtron also made valve gear
for Mantua switchers. I missed out on the Kemtron kit for Mantua once. I do have a Kemtron valve gear set for a switcher, but have no clue what it is for. It almost looks like Mantua, but not quite.
Vic Bitleris Raleigh, NC
From: HO-Steam@groups.io <HO-Steam@groups.io> on behalf of SP4149 <ken@...>
Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2018 1:59 PM To: HO-Steam@groups.io Subject: Re: [HO-Steam] Varney Dockside There was also a Zamac imported from Japan Dockside with a brass mechanism
and an all brass import as well. The valve gear was a Kemtron part and I believe is still in the PSC catalog. -- ken clark
HO and Sn42
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Bob Macklin <macklinbob@...>
The one PSC has is for the Roundhouse SP switcher.
Bob Macklin
Seattle, Wa.
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