Im really giving the F3 project a second look, as the detail and with fixed pilots will just blow everything else out of the water.
I was wondering if anyone has popped the hood on a diesel with the BB drive to takes a look see? Would love to see a pic. I'm sure just like with the steamers the Diesels are the smoothest runners out there.
Can't believe I'm actually thinking of purchasing a diesel from 3rdrail instead of a steamer. 
What has the world come too????
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I havent popped the covers but the E8's are great They run super smooth and the level of detail is second to none
bluelinec4 posted:I havent popped the covers but the E8's are great They run super smooth and the level of detail is second to none
Yes. I ordered an Amtrak version and it runs so quiet, it's invisible!
Maybe someday I will find a used one for sale. I wish the MTH version was 3/2. I would be happy with it.
I guess I don't know what you expect to see when one takes the shell off. I have several of the BB drives, 2 SD9's, 2 E8's and 8 F7's. All of them run flawlessly and smooth as silk at 100 Speed Step mode. With the shell off, all you will see is the electronics, large Cannon motor with belt drive and the frame. The ball bearings are in the truck side frames and the drive shafts run through the fuel tanks similar to some brass locos so you wont be able to see the bearings and the drive looks just like the drive in a 3rd Rail steam loco.
Most of the drive is a shaft, and universal joint, from the fuel tank, (SD9) model, visible without taking the model apart. Belt and motor connection would be in the fuel tank and then up into the model body. Three separate drive boxes. Universal joint right in picture. Duplicated on the other truck. There is no tower connection to the truck pivot.
I may be the only one who thinks this way, but I would prefer the use of bronze bearings in the truck side frames. The reason for my preference is that there would be no need to use wipers on the back faces of the wheels. I am pretty sure that the wipers cause more drag and noise than ball bearings would eliminate. And the reason for the use of wipers is to eliminate the incidence of electrical pitting of ball bearing side frame bearings. The use of ball bearings everywhere in the drive train from the motor and including the gearboxes I heartily applaud.
After seeing the picture of the underside of the SD-9, I am wondering where do you lubricate?
It looks like everything is sealed.
Ed
Wipers are needed on this particular model because all of the wheels are insulated from the axles. In fact the wheels are fully insulated from the whole frame judging by doing a quick check with my meter. I believe this is to isolate the whole engine from the wheels for the TMCC antenna.
Not sure where the ball bearings are but I’m suspecting in the gearboxes and the motor. The outer frames have brass plain bearings for vertical travel but I can’t tell what’s at the axle end without more disassembly. Maybe someone else can check. Anyway, all the current blows through the wipers in this setup.
The input/output shafts ride on ball bearings. the axle bearings, in the gearbox, are bronze, the bearings in the side frames (ends of the axles) are ball bearings. The worm is steel and the worm gear (axle gear) is bronze, the thrust washers between the axle gear and bronze bearing) are acetyl (Delrin).
Jay
Thanks for posting Norm, nice to see a diesel with a fix pilot and scale couplers.
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