Anyone know what the heck this is in this Williams Tender

It looks like an old electric e-unit.  You can upgrade this engine to TMCC or DCS.  You can also just put in a new e-unit from Dallee Electronics.

That's a very early e unit.  The 2 relays and 2 IC's tell that.

I would suggest you apply dc voltage to the can motor first before replacing it just to confirm that the loco is mechanically sound.  Some of these locos had elliptical bearings and I know some manufacturers that would not sell their e units for these engines due to poor performance.

Lou N

scale rail posted:

Our friend Tiffany of the forum might buy the clunker of an engine. It never ran even new. I always thought it has something to do with this "what ever it is" in the tender. Never saw anything like it. What would she replace it with and what the heck is it. Don

Hello scale rail.

That part is a old or early Williams E-unit is dead due to age.  I will  buy the Dallee #400 e-unit for this poor Dreyfess Hudson and hope its narrow enough to be put in the boiler in the front.  I probably can re-assemble the body parts with metal JB weld epoxy.  I will do the best I can to fix him up and post pictures of the repairs here in the forums.  This is my first "O" gauge version of  the Williams brass Dreyfess Hudson I ever had.   I had a Con-Cor version of this engine in "N" scale back in 1970's but it was in U.P. (brown, yellow with red pin stripe I think) colors and its rather a ODD looking engine to boot !   I  WILL send the money order in the morning.   Any ideas about plastic Madison cars for it that can be purchase cheep ?

"Let the sea and everything in it  shout for joy!  Let the fields and everything in them be happy ! The trees of the forest will sing for joy when they see the Lord, because he is coming to rule the world". 1 Chronicles 16:32-33 ERV (Easy to Read Version)

Tiffany

Not sure if you can use the newer Williams by Bachmann reverse unit or not. If you want just forward direction you can substitute the board with a bridge rectifier(costs between $3.50 & $5.00 depending where you buy one); 6 amps 50 volts AC.

Lee Fritz

I can't imagine any reason you can't use virtually any electronic reverse unit with sufficient power handling capability, including any of the relay-based Williams units.  There are only four wires to the locomotive in 99% of the conventional Williams rigs, motor (2), center rail roller, wheels.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I can't imagine any reason you can't use virtually any electronic reverse unit with sufficient power handling capability, including any of the relay-based Williams units.  There are only four wires to the locomotive in 99% of the conventional Williams rigs, motor (2), center rail roller, wheels.

Hello Gunrunnerjohn

I wonder if the Dallee # 400 E-unit narrow enough to be place inside the front section of the boiler ? Since I am hearing-impaired and will not need sounds for it and wont need a tether for hook up from the tender.  Any ideas for 5 car plastic 027 streamliner passenger cars with die-cast trucks and dual pick ups, I mean who makes a good quality set for cheap to go with the Hudson ?   I know K-line, Lionel and Williams makes them but who's is the best for the price ?   I call it the "Budget Hudson" LOL.  Maybe repaint the whole train into the "The Royal Blue" colors under a budget !!

"Then Mary said, 'I praise the lord with all my heart. I am very happy because God is my Savior" Luke 1:46-47 ERV (Easy to Read Version)

Tiffany

"I wonder if the Dallee # 400 E-unit narrow enough to be place inside the front section of the boiler ? Since I am hearing-impaired and will not need sounds for it and wont need a tether for hook up from the tender."

Over-thinking. This thing is set up/tethered for an e-unit in the tender. Just use the existing wiring/tether/etc to install virtually any e-unit you get and move on with the project. What else would you use the tender for - electronically - anyway? This is a straightforward replacement situation.

I have one of these. They can run just fine. They are a bit delicate - don't let the kids mess with it - but when bought for a good price they make a very presentable blue-collar Dreyfuss Hudson. Scale-sized and more accurate than a RailKing/sub-scale version.

=======

"If you want just forward direction you can substitute the board with a bridge rectifier(costs between $3.50 & $5.00 depending where you buy one"

Don't do that (unless you are running a museum or holiday display).

Like Lou says check out the motor. Those E units are fairly bulletproof. I agree any E unit would work including a modern Williams unit.

pete

That is the electronic E unit by Samhongsa that showed up in early Williams steamers.  I have a new one here somewhere if anyone needs it.

The Dallee 400 is the biggest bang you will ever get for your buck.  It makes old AC motors run great.

scale rail posted:

Our friend Tiffany of the forum might buy the clunker of an engine. It never ran even new. I always thought it has something to do with this "what ever it is" in the tender. Never saw anything like it. What would she replace it with and what the heck is it. Don

Don, does the tender have its own pickup rollers? If so put it on the track, shell off, and apply and cycle the power. If the relays click it may be OK, if not then its likely the E unit.

Pete

Norton posted:

scale rail posted:

Our friend Tiffany of the forum might buy the clunker of an engine. It never ran even new. I always thought it has something to do with this "what ever it is" in the tender. Never saw anything like it. What would she replace it with and what the heck is it. Don

Don, does the tender have its own pickup rollers? If so put it on the track, shell off, and apply and cycle the power. If the relays click it may be OK, if not then its likely the E unit.

Pete

Hello Pete.

I checked Ebay photos of this type of engine and the tender does not have roller pick ups.   I will soon purchase the Dallee # 400 E-unit and install it in the engine since it about 1 inch wide by 2 inch long by 1 inch high.  I am not too sure how long the lead weight is or if there's room in boiler for the E-unit and weight.   I wish to not to mess with old E-unit.   I have major work cut out for me in repairing this poor budget hudson so it will keep me busy for a week or two.   I believe I can fix him up and get it running well and post pictures of the repairs in this forums.  Some of the brass parts may be lost so I just do the best I can guys.  I hope this helps........

"Look at the powerful things the lord has done. See the awesome things he has done here on earth" Psalm 46:8 ERV (Easy to Read Version)

Tiffany