Any experience/thoughts on this: WILLIAMS #00241 4-WHEEL TRUCK DUMMY DIESEL LOCO MOTORIZING UPGRADE KIT

WILLIAMS #00241 4-WHEEL TRUCK DUMMY DIESEL LOCO MOTORIZING UPGRADE KIT.

I wasn't familiar with this and was wondering if anyone had experience with it. It seems that it is no longer a readily available item given WBB's status.

 

"WBB's status"? 

What status?

Making a dummy powered is easily done, whether you buy an upgrade kit from ebay , buy the components from Timko, or just another 4 wheel trucked engine and swap the motorized trucks in, it takes about 30 minutes and depending on if using an E unit, or ERR command board, or making it Forward only you can have just about any of the 3 you want.

Using a Williams upgrade kit is easy. It comes with new geared trucks, motors for each and an e unit. Other options mentioned above will not be plug and play. MTH motorized trucks may be the closest, Lionel motorized trucks usually have a whole different mounting system. Pre Bachman days you could get an upgrade kit for double figures. Today you might be better off finding a complete powered engine and swapping shells.

Pete

Pete is onto the right solution, probably easier and cheaper to simply buy a powered locomotive.

Norton, your going to confuse Dennish, all of my suggestions are Williams based options, and I have made power units out of dummy Williams for several years now, a few with the Williams upgrade kits, many more with components from Timko, and half a dozen with donor engines I gutted and placed into the unit I was upgrading. 

ANY Williams 4 wheel truck with gears would work for the GP-38, I used ones from a genesis, as well as an F-7 to build 2 of mine, I had the frames and bodies from WBB and built a set for my overhead track. All you need is a set of side frames and pilots if donor not the correct ones. Williams is great for this kind of build, they seldom use specific trucks, instead sharing trucks across the prototypes. 

Dennish, if you can find one, a Chuggington  Brewster WBB works great, I built a GP-38-2 Santa Fe with one, I found the truck sides and pilots on ebay at a good price, and the truck/motors along with e unit swap easily. I put an ERR DC Commander in it for use as a command control engine for camera work on my layout. Watch the auction sites and be patient and for about $80 you can build it into a power unit.

I have also made several f-7 B units powered this way using donor f-7 engines that had shell damage, I just removed the pilot and they were exactly what needed. To make trailing engines rear facing, you just swap the engine plugs on e unit so it reverses the direction starts in.

It wasn't clear to me your suggesting using other trucks and motors you meant Williams only. Does Timko actually offer trucks that will work with Williams. If so I know many folks with worn out Williams geared trucks that will want to know that, given Bachmann doesn't stock these any more.

Confused 

Norton, Timko offers trucks, motors and a lot of Williams, he will rebuild a truck with stripped gear, he upgrades dummy trucks to powered ones if you want that, both the club and I have used him for years for parts to keep Williams running or upgrade. He is a one man show but gets things out quickly if not waiting for parts.

I have used 4 different kits for converting some Lionel PW locos to make them, "Lionel powered by Williams!" I got tired of playing with slow, underpowered loco's!  It's pretty much a bolt & go process, real easy. The other suggestions are also players as well. Good Luck

Thank you Ron. I will pass the word. A local club has few dead Williams engines and haven't been able to get gears for them.

Pete

Hi Dennis:  I have quite a few Williams and Williams by Bachmann Diesels and Steam Locos.  Someone mentioned Frank Timko.  Timko has converted several of my E-8 Williams Engines (back in the day) to Flywheel Can Motors.  Also, if you look on Page 70 of the current O Gauge Railroading Magazine (June-July 2019) you will find Trainworld, Trainland of New York and they have a large ad with a nice selection of Williams by Bachmann Products--and the price is Decent.  Timko has sold me motor kits for several of my Alco FA locos and E-8s.  Williams stuff is tough and runs forever if you keep the engines greased and oiled regularly.  Try calling Trainworld to see if they have some of the extra power trucks.  Also, look up Frank Timko and give him a call.  Look me up on the member part of this Forum and I can give you Timko's info. I have seen Timko take an old 1950 Lionel Horizontal Motored F3 Diesel and replace the Horizontal AC Motors with Horizontal DC Can Flywheel Motors (Yes he replaced the mechanical e-unit with an electronic one too).  Wow, that F3 ran like a charm with a very low noise level.   My only wish is that Menard's would  make a deal with Williams by Bachmann to carry there Train Line.  Mr Menard loves 3 rail electric trains and it would be a spectacular boon to both of these companies if this would happen......Sincerely yours     railbear601  

The Williams by Bachman  Chuggington  Brewster is a great donor for motors and e unit. Check out Trainword for a great price on these.

I left out that the motor trucks are included but the side frames and pilot need to be changed on the Chuggington  Brewster WBB 

Thank you all for the wonderful input up to this point. I am in the process of processing all of the information.

Dennis