Army 41 postwar switcher

Now you need the whole postwar motorized unit collection. I'm down to needing just the 65 handcar.

@jhz563 posted:

Now, if only it could made into a command engine with quieter operation.  Hmmmm.......

There was a whole string of TMCC remakes of these, I actually have a couple of them.  The shell is the same, probably a drop-on.

Here's my Picatinny Arsenal #42 TMCC Switcher.

I also have this one buried in a pile of boxes, also TMCC

As to replacing the coupler, it is easy.

One simply depresses the locking tabs on the truck clip to push it on out. When ordering new parts, you might as well get  a new truck clip just in the event that removal deforms it.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

There was a whole string of TMCC remakes of these, I actually have a couple of them.  The shell is the same, probably a drop-on.

Here's my Picatinny Arsenal #42 TMCC Switcher.

This one is pretty cool.  Are the tmcc reissues quieter or does it also make a mechanical roar?

Those little switchers can be whisper quite. Be sure to get plenty of oil in the lower bearing, and grease on the drive gear. This is where a lot of noise comes from. The re-issues tend to run poor.

As mentioned above, it's more a matter of replacing the whole lead truck.  I second the suggestion to also acquire a spare truck retainer clip/peg at the same time.  I ended up in the position where I thought I could salvage the original but the tab broke off upon reassembly and I had to order one anyway.

@Chuck Sartor posted:

Those little switchers can be whisper quite. Be sure to get plenty of oil in the lower bearing, and grease on the drive gear. This is where a lot of noise comes from. The re-issues tend to run poor.

I put some red-n-tacky on the drive gears and the worm gear, but that doesn't appear to be nearly enough.  I am mostly used to can motors, not open frame,  but honestly it's too loud to even run for more than a few minutes. If you have some pointers on making it quieter I would love to learn more. 

You need to use oil, grease won't lube the nylon bearing. Be sure the axle bearing get some oil, too. and a little grease in the upper bearing, where the ball bearing is.

Mine was bad for noise too. Cousin had the Navy one and it was pretty Quiet. Go figure. 

@jhz563 posted:

I put some red-n-tacky on the drive gears and the worm gear, but that doesn't appear to be nearly enough.  I am mostly used to can motors, not open frame,  but honestly it's too loud to even run for more than a few minutes. If you have some pointers on making it quieter I would love to learn more. 

I have a couple of the PW versions and they are very loud. They certainly earned the nickname " Growlers "

@jhz563 posted:

This one is pretty cool.  Are the tmcc reissues quieter or does it also make a mechanical roar?

Mine runs reasonably quiet, but the little vertical motors will never be like a can motor.  There is certainly that Pulmore growl as it runs.

@Chuck Sartor posted:

You need to use oil, grease won't lube the nylon bearing. Be sure the axle bearing get some oil, too. and a little grease in the upper bearing, where the ball bearing is.

Both of my TMCC models run like a top, never saw any issues.  I agree, proper lube does make a huge difference.

Well,  I will try some more lube. I did put the slightest amount of grease on the ball bearing on top of the motor. 

Also, I see that Hennings has a replacement truck assembly available. 

PW Celebration Series; TMCC, E'couplers. I've had it for years and always actually "liked" the way it ran - considering its engineering handicaps. Actually has a gear ratio that allows it to run at less than light speed. Recently painted/weathered it.

Huge. Built like a tank. Still incredibly noisy. Who needs Railsounds?

I'll have to pop the body off again and give that shiny TMCC aluminum heat sink some flat black.

If there is any room in the shell for a little piece of styrofoam it will absorb some of the sound....

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

If there is any room in the shell for a little piece of styrofoam it will absorb some of the sound....

I would not think so, and what little could be put in there would be ineffective, I am sure. Plus - per the visible heat sink on the TMCC version anyway - foam near the motor would tend to hold the heat in, not a good thing.

I have learned to embrace the sound; Pullmor-equipped Lionel equipment always had more in common with household appliances than model railroading anyway. Part of the "charm" and durability.  

Just think of it as a predigital sound system.  Anyway, quiet diesels are not prototypical.

I will actually sometimes run postwar F units with horizontally mounted motors just to get a "growl" fix.  But not endlessly.  Actually, my growling postwar engines can have the volume adjusted digitally.  You see, I wear hearing aids, and I can turn the volume up or down.

Alan

I have a collection of 5 military themed ones with a little sign that says "Brothers in Arms".  They look even cooler in a group.  Fun!

Chris S.

I just popped my TMCC #56 on the tracks, it was pretty loud.  I did a lube, it's a lot quieter, but by no means can motor quiet!

Is the pullmor really the source,  or is half that noise coming from the mechanical e unit?

Well, in my TMCC units, the "E-Unit" is electronic, so all the noise I hear is coming from the motor/gears.

@AlanRail posted:

Nice display Alan!

TJ

Steve

Looking good Steve, for $50 mine definitely did not come with a box.  I do really like that it is geared to go slow.  I just am not used to that pullmor growl.  

Anybody have a defunct one? Bad or missing cab, motor, e-unit, front/rear trucks, or railings, is OK. But frame must be good.

Dave

nice, used one of these as the basis for my 2-4-2 dockside. good little motors, if a little noisy. i paid 15$ for mine at a resale shop. 

I picked a #42 up that looked like it had spent about 10 yrs. in a bucket partly submerged. The cab was intact and I decided the rust stains gave it a "weathered" appearance.  Took the cab off and freed up the screws to take apart and clean everything. Rebuilt the e-unit, replaced the disintegrated brush springs ( I never ran across that before). Cleaned the commutator and put new brushes in it. Oiled and greased where necessary. I had to replace the front truck due to rusting. It was quite noisy on it's first run. I found the axle bushings weren't getting oil as most of what I applied ran down along side the bushings instead of on them. After a couple of attempts, i got the oil where it should be and it ran quieter.  It looks like the wrath of what ever, but it was fun to resurrect and watch it run again. It now pulls the track cleaning car on the layout it's on and looks good doing it. 

@Signalwoman posted:

nice, used one of these as the basis for my 2-4-2 dockside. good little motors, if a little noisy. i paid 15$ for mine at a resale shop. 

Looks like a fun little project,  complete with drive rods!  I believe I spy some redecorated Thomas coaches there as well 😁

Okay,  so I have another question.   With all this talk of motor noise, has anyone tried a can motor conversion in these little beasties?  I am actually thinking about some pretty radical surgery, enough that maybe I should look for one in a little rougher shape than the one I lucked into.   Btw the replacement truck came in from Hennings.  Hopefully I will have time to get to it before the weekend. 

I'd ask Frank Timko, he's put can motors into a lot of different stuff.  I had him put a larger motor into the Lionel Hogwart's Express locomotive, it was a tight fit.

It appears you need a motor mount that bolts to the frame and has a worm gear matching what is on the armature. 

@jhz563 posted:

Looks like a fun little project,  complete with drive rods!  I believe I spy some redecorated Thomas coaches there as well 😁

oh believe me it was, and actually those are lionel 1928091 branch line coaches, they are also part of the Thomas lineup, but come cast in color and undecorated save for painted door handles. i wanted some short passenger cars for my o27 inner loop and they do the job well.

I believe the postwar Lionel #41 US Army switcher was my very 1st engine. It's the quintessential Little Engine That Could.

I had and still have the #51 Navy.  The word "growler" is a perfect description.   At full speed it does quiet down some. My Tie Ejector is noisy also.

Hi Arnold,

The #41 US Army switcher was also my first engine. I received it for Christmas some time in the mid to late 50’s. It was my only engine until the early 80’s. I agree with the other posters that it’s slow and noisy but that’s what makes it special. 

John

@bmoran4 posted:

As to replacing the coupler, it is easy.

One simply depresses the locking tabs on the truck clip to push it on out. When ordering new parts, you might as well get  a new truck clip just in the event that removal deforms it.

Thanks for the illustration,  did the job this evening. 

@CA John posted:

Hi Arnold,

The #41 US Army switcher was also my first engine. I received it for Christmas some time in the mid to late 50’s. It was my only engine until the early 80’s. I agree with the other posters that it’s slow and noisy but that’s what makes it special. 

John

John, I, like the #41, am slow and noisy but I don't know if that makes me special.

Chris S.

Thanks Chris, you made my day!

John

you'll notice on my display I have two 41s, the reason is that one is gloss black plastic and the other is "painted" black matte.

does anyone else have a painted black 41??