3/5/13 FAT BOY SPEAKER AWESOME IMPROVEMENT, 4 CHUFFS, REBUILT SMOKE UNIT ALL FINISHED ON A LIONEL JLC CHALLENGER//WITH VIDEOS//3/5/13

Alex, have you taken the boiler shell off the JLC Challenger? I've thought about changing the exhaust chuffs on my engine, but have not done so as yet. It's not going to be easy due to the front engine's pivoting steam pipes. On Lionel's scale SP GS-2 Daylight engine from a few years ago, the chuffs were generated by a 2-lobed cam on the front axle which operates a microswitch. I built up 2 more lobes on this cam using J-B Quick Weld, and carefully shaped them. It has been working fine for 5-6 years now with 4 chuffs per driver revolution. The microswitch also triggers the smoke unit fan at 4 chuffs. A bit different than a sensor and tach tape on a motor flywheel. 3rd Rail uses cams to generate either 2 or 4 chuffs. North West Short Line makes cams in 2 halves that will fit over different axle diameters; you'd have to measure the axle diameter to order the correct cam, then install a microswitch.

 

Phil  

I'm not sure about the dimensions of the fat boy speaker and the width of the Challenger tender. I have two of the JLC Challenger and remember them as being narrow when you remove the casting.

 

As far as the wiring goes I imagine it wouldn't require anything additional.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Jim

Alex...I would be interested in the finished upgrade as I also have this locomotive and have never run it!!  It is on the layout in the freight yard and I would like to do the same modifications....please keep us posted!!

 

Thanks,

Alan

>>>My question is can I upgrade the speaker to a Fat Boy<<<

 

Sound in all those early RS engines suffered with a fair amount of static.

I would be concerned that speaker would amplify it..

Joe 

Alex,

Nice job on the Challenger!
Good luck with it! That's a beautiful engine!

Mike R

 Nice work as usual Alex. When can we start buying up all of the old 2 chuffer Lionels and send them to you for upgrades?

Is the boiler round, or U shape?  If round, is it in two halves like the FEF, or a one piece casting?

Alas, the trouble with using the trailing truck wheel for the reed switch. In that video I only count three chuffs/rev. and the cycle tends to move counter-clockwise as the engine moves forward.

Thanks RickO you can send them to me and I'll take care of it.LOL

Thanks my good friend Mike R

 

Bob2 see the photo I attached.

 

Big Jim, yes you are correct It's very hard  to get 4chuffs exactly. It's most likely 3 and half chuffs per rev.But I'm happy with that.

 

Alex

 

Some people...WHAAAAAAA!

Mike R

Alex did you "upgrade" the smoke unit to a different one or modify the existing smoke unit? I have the same engine and want to do the same.

It sounds like a slick solution.  Can you post a picture of the trailing truck modification and reed switch part number/supplier.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

Mike,

It really is. And it's easy and works great!

Mike R

Ps...he posted a how to a while back I'm sure he will repost the link here.

Laidoffsick, that's all I did was modify the existing one. Drilled out the air intake hole and cut off the wick material that's around the resistor and put new wick material in.

 

Also here's a link on a how to I did a while back

 

Link     https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/7906207229853027

 

Thanks to all, Alex

Alex...thanks for the videos.  Hey my friend, you work at the speed of light...GHEZZZ!!  I wonder what would happen if you and Patrick H. ever decided to team up on a project....HECK, it would be done before you two got started!!  LOL!

 

I am packing up my loco so expect a package!!!  I figure you will have it done and shipped back out the same day!! 

 

Alan

Hi Alan thanks, If I teamed up with Patrick H we would create a huge EMPIRE!!!! LOL

but Patrick would have to do all the heavy work. My back would never hold up.

 

Alan I will update this thread next week, because I ordered a Fat boy speaker and enclosure from Box car Bill. I will let you know how it turns out

 

Thanks, Alex

 

Hey Alex....I am sure Patrick would understand cause there always need to be a worker and a boss......right boss??!!

 

Alan

Thanks Alex, Im curious as to how that Fat Boy works out as well.

Good afternoon everyone,

 

Here's a before and after video of a Fat boy speaker replacing the original speaker in the JLC Challenger. I think it was a total success, the sounds are deeper and of course louder.I also think there's less static with the fat boy then the original speaker.

 

There was a lot of modifications done to the tender. The fat boy speaker didn't fit where the original speaker was. So I took the boards from the front of the tender and moved them to the rear, and made a new speaker area in the front. I also had to extend a few wires and re route them. Everything worked out great.

 

Thanks for looking, Alex

 

Alex,

What a great upgrade! I can't believe the difference in the sound from the original speaker to the FatBoy! It looks like you had to reconfigure the entire tender to make that new speaker fit.

Great Job!

Mike R

Alex;

Nice work.

Its always a good idea IMO to relocate the speaker to the front of the tender. Puts it closer to where the prototype sound would emanate from and makes it more realistic.

Did the fatboy come with the enclosure baffle in the pictures?

 

Rod

Thanks guys,

 

Mike R it was a lot of work but well worth it, sounds incredible in person

 

Rod I totally agree with you,on the speaker being in the front of the tender

As for the Fat boy speaker, I purchased three separate parts. The speaker the enclosure and there's a mount that goes between the speaker and the chassis.

I always purchase all my Lionel parts from fellow forum member Box car Bill.

 

 

Thanks again to all, Alex

 

 

well fat boys are base speakers..and all the chuffs are deep base..I'm going to put one on my 3rd rail s1 duplex Im upgrading to TAS EOB with railsounds ..Hey if you want the best sound out of that train?  Line the inside of that tender with thin plywood or balsa wood about 1/16 thick....Thats what im doing to my S1..wood improve accustic sounds..

Alex....another successful conversion!!  Wonderful sound.  The baffle / enclosure is what makes all of the difference....just like in a home audio speaker.  The enclosure will determine the amount of bass one gets from the speaker.

 

Thanks,

Alan

Fine work as always Alex!  

Thanks guys,

 

Joseywales  thanks for the great info I will try that out.

 

Alan yes the baffle make's a huge difference

 

Thanks Jeff

 

 

 

Thanks to all again, Alex