Dorfan Repowering Project

now that's a great idea!

Gtreat job. I did not realize that the Dorfan loco was that small.

I have used Williams motor trucks for many different repowering jobs. The Marx 21 was one of the first. I also did one for the Consoli family remake of the cast aluminum Zephyr.

I am currently on the lookout for an ETS pickup, so the Zephyr will have dual pick up shoes.

The Williams power truck is to toy trains as the small block Chevy engine is to hot rods.

Roy

The 51 & 52 electric cabs are fairly small. The 53 is an inch or more longer. I don't have a 54 but the book lists them as the same size as a 53. Even their steamers are pretty small.

Steve

I love this analogy -- Steve, Hojack, and several others on this forum are definitely "tinrodders."

I always learn a ton from this type of thread and can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Now, what did I do with that dorfan casting I bought on ebay a few years back.  It didn't survive shipping, but it could be powered using this idea......

Anybody know of a good source for Williams power trucks?  Are they making them now?

I took a quick look on the WBB online parts catalog, but didn't get anywhere.  My 2014 paper catalog lists them as ""Power Upgrade Kits", stock #00241, for $209.95!  I guess "good source" is a good question.

That's nice work to salvage a rare item which might have otherwise been junked. And I expect it runs better than original !

Very nice job Steve.  Sometimes when you get an old Dorfan casting and glue it together, it just keeps coming apart in new places.  If you've ever seen a safety glass windshield break from an accident, it's a pile of little 1/4" cubes.  I had a Dorfan shell that "granulated" like that, there was just no end to it.  Hope yours holds together better than that.

I have not used the O Gauge Williams unit, but the Williams Standard Gauge unit is a favorite.  It has 2 of the can motors, each driving an axle with a worm gear, and is about the size of a Build-a-loco.  They are not being made any more: I keep an eye out for them on eBay and train shows and pick them up whenever I see one.  Phenomenal pullers, best power unit you could ask for.  That's what I put in the recent crocodile project.

If there is room in the shell, it's easy to add a Williams reversing board.  Train World has them for $39, I'm sure they are available elsewhere.  Easy 4-wire connection - pickup roller, frame ground, and 2 motor leads.  They have a bridge rectifier built into the board.  It's a small printed board, tucks into most cabs.  Smooth and dependable forward-neutral-reverse-neutral sequencing, the perfect complement to the Williams motor, since you have to add a rectifier anyway. Might not be room in the little 51.

I have a fairly good looking Dorfan 53 loco which seems quite solid, but which won't run because it has warped enough to bind all the gears.  Drawback of having the shell be the motor frame instead of an independent slip-in motor.  Was thinking about repowering it one day, thanks for the helpful boost.  Good thread.

Rob - "tinrodders" - that's funny!

david

Dear Steve

Lovely work. I am always amazed by the solution you come with to rebuild these old timers, well done.

I am a tinrodder, too, but don't have a camera to show off my work.

The best place to get Williams parts is Charlie Phillips at seven one seven five six four eight six three three

This is awesome. We are going to try a tmcc mini cruise install in a 53. For the body granulating I have been restoring/fixing them with JBWeld. The key is to create a layer of expoxy lining as much of the inside as possible, kind of like repairing fiberglass with new glass and gel. Much better than having these engines never run or be seen again. Here is another shell that arrived completely smashed. It is getting done day by day.

Thanks everyone, it is a fun project.

Ace, it runs very nice and smooth. I did have to remove the traction tires, not enough continuity with only two wheels making contact.

Rob, I picked up a used GP-9 for $80.00, sold the shell and that gave me two power trucks. One for the unit in the video and one for Jeff's 51. We do need another Williams loco to do a few more, but they are out there for not a lot of money.

Dave, the 51's I'm working on did not come originally with reverse units so forward only is Ok.  Jeff and I each have a green 53. Hope to get one running on original parts, the other has a broken idler gear post so it will get the Williams motor treatment.

As we get a few up and running, Jeff wants to put TMCC Mini Commander in one and a 53 would be the best for that I think. Not much room in the early 51's, but the later ones are a bit longer so that may also be a candidate for TMCC.

Steve

"tinrodders" Rule

I've put manual reversing switches in some of my O-gauge locos, sometimes to replace problematic old E-units, sometimes on locos that were originally forward-only. I try to put the switch in a conveniently accessible and visually unobtrusive location. It's also easier to MU locos with manual reversing switches. With a center-off DPDT reversing switch you can also isolate the loco on any powered track. It's a cheap, simple, convenient alternative to E-units.

 Thanks for the inspiration Rob. Jeff & I are now the So Cal Division of the Tinrodders 

Awesome!!  Actually, that would be a fun one to try to make.  A Lionel 1661 would do nicely. If you are goling to drag it, it will need a wheelie bar behind the cab.  I assume it will use slicks (traction tires)?

...and then there was this...

If we build it, they will run....?

One of my favorite hotrods has old license plates for floorboards, and a tractor seat...

What's the club criteria for a patch

Tinrodding? I like it!

Reminds me of my Copper Commodore. I built it from parts I had collected. When I installed the 666 smoker I offset the motor mounts which lowered the front end to give a loco a sort of sinister rake.

I picked up Steve and we were at the Fullerton Railroad days all day and he decided to was time for another test run of the Dorfan 51 remotor. Steve wanted to know if it would go through the Fastrack switches and it worked perfectly. Everyone was amazed to see a Dorfan running on the layout. Here is the video:

Thanks for doing the video Jeff. I was concerned with only one pick up, how it would handle switches and crossovers. They did not bother it at all.

Steve

Nice!  Looks like old 51 is running well with her new chassis. 

Just got home from Fullerton. Good meeting you and Steve face-to-face. Like your work with Tinplate O Gauge and the module operation.

Gentlemen

Wonder work on bring this engine back to life. Thanks for the video, as they say a picture is a thousands words. I have never heard of the Dorfan class of engines so this something new for me. One quick question who's layout did you run this Dorfan 51 on? I tried Goggling Fullerton and got the whole event (which looks and sounds supper!) but nothing about layout or track club.

The layout squares are from members of the All Aboard Fastrackers with the website being www.allaboardfastrackers.com and the we are members of the Toy Train Operating Society Southern Pacific Division and our website is www.ttos-sp.org