@49Lionel posted:

I have one of the original docksiders as well, and even those rods have some slop.  I was wondering if something a little tighter was possible.

The small amount of slop with the original Docksider rods is probably needed, you can't make them super tight as then you'll surely have binding issues.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Got my Lionel order and replaced the drive rods on one of my engines with the older conventional model's drive rods.  Here's a picture that illustrates the difference, I have no idea why the huge holes in the new rods!  The rod screws fit the conventional model's rods perfectly, all I replaced was the rod itself.

It runs much better than it did with the stock rods.  I"m towing my little magnetic debris car to see if I can collect any staples, track cuttings, etc.

Would this same issue be present in this earlier LC model ?

SANTA'S HELPER CHRISTMAS LIONCHIEF™ TRAIN SET SKU: 6-82545

@Doug W. posted:

Would this same issue be present in this earlier LC model ?

SANTA'S HELPER CHRISTMAS LIONCHIEF™ TRAIN SET SKU: 6-82545

I have no idea without seeing it, take the rod off and see if it has huge holes, see my earlier picture.

I had taken apart an older Lionchief version for another project. So, I swapped over the Lionchief wheel sets and siderods to the 2.0 version.
This resulted in much smoother operation but it also knocked it back to 1 chuf per revolution.

You don't need to swap the wheelsets, since the new LC+ 2.0 uses a hall effect sensor on the axle, that's where you lost the chuffs.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

You don't need to swap the wheelsets, since the new LC+ 2.0 uses a hall effect sensor on the axle, that's where you lost the chuffs.

I swapped over the side rods first and the operation was still a little jerky. So I saw the posts here about reducing the wheel gauge slightly. I have to get my vice out of storage to do that. In the meantime, I checked the gauge on the Lionchief wheel sets and it was slightly smaller. I swapped them over to try it out. The operation was much better  

I expected a loss of chuffs given the 2.0 model has 4 teeth for the Hall effect sensor where as the Lionchief had 1.

I thought it was worth a try swapping over the front and rear wheel sets until I can get a long term fix implemented.

It would be easy to slightly reduce the gauge of the newer LC+ 2.0 model, that would just require a drill press to use to move the wheels very slightly while bracing the opposite axle.  I'd do it on my press, but in a pinch a drill press works pretty well.

Truthfully, I'm thinking of taking out the axle and modifying it to 2 chuffs/rev, the four chuffs are two busy for this particular locomotive with it's tiny wheels, the chuffs get garbled when you run at any speed.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Truthfully, I'm thinking of taking out the axle and modifying it to 2 chuffs/rev, the four chuffs are two busy for this particular locomotive with it's tiny wheels, the chuffs get garbled when you run at any speed.

Gunrunnerjohn, if you end up doing this, would you mind explaining the process? I think 2 chuffs/rev would definitely be better for this one and I would be interested in doing the same to mine. I was just considering swapping to the older wheelsets as Ryan Mc mentioned in his post to intentionally lose the extra chuffs. All my other locos are the older tmcc's with 1 chuff/rev anyway so it wouldn't bother me.

-Scott

@Scottmaster1121 posted:

Gunrunnerjohn, if you end up doing this, would you mind explaining the process? I think 2 chuffs/rev would definitely be better for this one and I would be interested in doing the same to mine. I was just considering swapping to the older wheelsets as Ryan Mc mentioned in his post to intentionally lose the extra chuffs. All my other locos are the older tmcc's with 1 chuff/rev anyway so it wouldn't bother me.

-Scott

I read @Ryan Mc's post and when I read what the Hall effect sensor was and the bit about how many "teeth" are present, I took mine apart to tinker. I came up with this guide. I'm happy with it! I mean this engine wouldn't hit top speed in real life and it doesn't but I get impatient with how slow I had to go when I was running around some cars on a long siding. That siding is a loop because it's just my test layout but chopping off two teeth was a good move for me. I'll see about getting a video tomorrow.

Great job, this deserves a little better link!   That 's exactly what I was talking about, now I don't have to document it.

Lionel 0-6-0 Docksider LC+2.0 Chuff Rate Reduction

Boy, nuthin' says fun with a new product like 6 pages devoted to fixing it.

Rick, this is "improving" it.

@RickO posted:

Boy, nuthin' says fun with a new product like 6 pages devoted to fixing it.

I like this kind of tinkering. Maybe something is wrong with me I can't wait to get my preordered locomotives so I can take them apart!

Thanks! @gunrunnerjohn

@BillYo414 posted:

I like this kind of tinkering. Maybe something is wrong with me I can't wait to get my preordered locomotives so I can take them apart!

Thanks! @gunrunnerjohn

I think that's one of the reasons I like post-war stuff. I've always got something laying around to work on.

@BillYo414 posted:

I like this kind of tinkering.

I couldn't agree more. Somehow no matter what I own, I always find that I'm thinking about ways to modify it. I was actually just telling my wife how great it is to be a part of this forum with so many like minded people who share their ideas and modifications. I can't count how many times I've seen a post on here and thought "wow what a great idea, I think I'll do that too." Thanks BillYo414 for posting the excellent guide and sharing the results. Would love to see a video if you get the chance to upload one.

-Scott

@Train Nut posted:

I think that's one of the reasons I like post-war stuff. I've always got something laying around to work on.

The postwar stuff is awesome. I have a project on the list to bring a 6-8-6 turbine to the layout. It will need command control. I'm really excited to try it. It's partially a sentimental project and partially because I love the AC growl, the speed, and the weight!! I generally do like the scale speed operations and whatnot but sometimes ya just gotta crank the throttle and go haha

@Scottmaster1121 posted:

I couldn't agree more. Somehow no matter what I own, I always find that I'm thinking about ways to modify it. I was actually just telling my wife how great it is to be a part of this forum with so many like minded people who share their ideas and modifications. I can't count how many times I've seen a post on here and thought "wow what a great idea, I think I'll do that too." Thanks BillYo414 for posting the excellent guide and sharing the results. Would love to see a video if you get the chance to upload one.

-Scott

Yes. Or I'm curious how it works. This has especially happened as I graduate to learning electronics. I'm always wanting to take stuff apart to see the board and see if I understand/can learn anything. I will upload what I have to the guide.

Is anybody else experiencing problems with the chuffing on these?  The chuffing on mine started to intermittently drop out - while all of the other sounds are fine - and now it's basically stopped altogether.  I did a reset to no avail.

The chuff is generated by a hall effect sensor and a 4-lobe cam.  Obviously, something is amiss there, most likely mechanical from your description.  You can see the cam by dropping the bottom plate on the locomotive and seeing what may be amiss.

I'm happy to do that, as long as I won't void the warranty.  Guess I don't have to fess up to it!

I wasn't too worried on a $200 locomotive about the warranty, but maybe that's just me.  Wait, I wouldn't void the warranty by opening it.

Did You Guys Know That The B.E.D.T #15 0-6-0T Dockside Switcher Was Refurbished Into The Strasburg Railroad's Thomas The Tank Engine Unit?

Well, I didn't know that, interesting tidbit.

Question.     HOW DID YOU GUYS GET THIS THING!?!? IT'S SO OVERPRICED!!!!!

@Thomas The Tank Engine posted:

Question.     HOW DID YOU GUYS GET THIS THING!?!? IT'S SO OVERPRICED!!!!!

If you think this is overpriced, you ain't seen nothing yet. Yes, like Bachmann Turner Overdrive once said.

I'm trying to figure where the "overpriced" comment comes from.  Must live in an alternate reality.

@Thomas The Tank Engine posted:

Question.     HOW DID YOU GUYS GET THIS THING!?!? IT'S SO OVERPRICED!!!!!

ROTFLMAO!

Jon

@49Lionel posted:

Is anybody else experiencing problems with the chuffing on these?  The chuffing on mine started to intermittently drop out - while all of the other sounds are fine - and now it's basically stopped altogether.  I did a reset to no avail.

My PRR 0-6-0  - no chuff from the get-go.

Might be easy to fix if you're alright with taking the engine apart @Mike Wyatt. I would think the little plastic piece on the rear most axle is either loose or not close enough to the sensor.

I got a PRR, I also swapped out the side rods as gunrunner John suggested. Here’s mine pushing 6 GGD aluminum cars with no issues whatsoever! Great little steamer!