K-Line engines Question

K-Line engines are all DC-motored, but it's difficult to make blanket statements about modifications because there are different geartrains and motors used in various models.

Thanks Rob, I have never even seen a K-Line engine for real just pictures. We are running conventional on our little  layout. Mostly lionel and a little williams so this would be a new adventure for us. 

I hope it does run on a traditional lionel zw transformer , Dosen't it? I am really thinking i am getting into more trouble than i need.

The K-Line conventional stuff will run on a standard transformer.  AAMOF, even the TMCC command stuff is compatible with standard transformers.  You're safe.

 

ZW would be fine, if not overkill.

The inexpensive K-Line diesel switcher (EMD but I can't remember what model) has a switch on the bottom for series or parallel motor operation.

The last versions(toward the end of K-Line) of the EMD MP-15 and Alco S-2 had the series/parallel switch.

Thanks for all the information and your time fellas. 

I'm guessing that the last runs of the Alco FA had the series/parallel switch too, but I have not seen one personally.

Some of the older K-Line diesels had spur geared motors with the motor mounted low in the truck.  These engines tend to run poorly at slow speeds but can be improved by rewiring them to operate in series.  (The vertical shaft diesels operated much better because the gear reduction was much greater)

 

To convert the engine to series operation, just cut one wire from each motor, run a wire from the terminal of one motor to the terminal of the other and you've got it.  Just be sure that you cut the A/C hot wire off of one motor and the A/C ground off of the other. 

 

This will cut the voltage to each motor in half and give you much better low  speed control.  It will tend to slow the engine down at top speed, too, but these engines run so fast that you'll never miss that fast operation.  You can improve the operation of the vertical shaft motor engines, as well, by following the same procedure.

 

Paul Fischer

There is one K line S1 in SP that is DC only.

Charlie, one of the common complaints about the K-Line engines (to be specific: the S-2, MP-15, Alco FA and the RDC Budd Car all with truck mounted motors) is what people call "jack rabbit" starts. This is because folks were running these with postwar transformers that put a minimum 6 volts to the track. The Lionel 1033 with the B-U voltage post settting (0-11 volts to the track) will run these perfectly, as will most modern transformers that start with less than the common 6 volt minimum.

 

As mentioned, later production versions came with a "Parallel / Series" switch.

Otherwise, re-wiring them in series will slow them down (as Paul mentioned) but also enable you to operate postwar cars like the vibrator motor searchlight car, milk car, etc. which need more voltage to operate.

 

The RMT RDC and Alco S-4 would be good candidates for you too, though the prices are NOT the blowouts they once were. RMT is using a different spec motor as I have found out: The K-Line locos run great at the B-U setting of the 1033, but the RMT locos need the higher starting voltage range of A-U otherwise they can bearly pull a train.

 

I really like the K-Kine S-2 and do quite a few alterations to them as standard proceedure. One thing you might not like, is that there is only one light bulb in the cab, with a lucite tube going to the front headlight, so the front headlight is illuminated, but not bright by any standard. RMT changed this and added operatng marker lights and strobe light: A nice touch for a low cost engine. The RMT S-4 also has a horn, though not Railsounds, certainly adequate for starter loco quality.

 

Some of the later production K-Line MP-15's also came with a horn. And a few models of the K-Line Alco FA came with their own "Real Sounds:" The Golden State comes to mind.

 

 If you like the Alco FA, keep your eyes open for the models that came with a tether wire and had motors in BOTH A units... sometimes these can be found for a nice price, especially since there's 4 motors total. NYC, UP and Santa Fe versions come to mind. These units will also have the added steps and handrails versus the cast-in ones from earlier versions.

One more possibility: K-Line by Lionel produced some of these K-Line engines: the S-2 (Erie, Milwaukee, WP, RB&BB Circus, UP), MP-15 (C&NW, Ford, BNSF, Southern and SP) Alco FA (New Haven, black Santa Fe, and Southern. The cataloged NP was cancelled). That Erie S-2 sells quick when they pop up, as do the New Haven Alcos - which visually differ from the uncataloged K-Line verion with their silver colored trucks.

 

The service manuals are no longer on the Lionel website, but I'm pretty sure these all were made with the "Series / Parallel" switch as well as including a horn.