Marx Clockwork #963 Project

some guys have too much time on their hands....... very nicely done James!

Sorry for what's probably a dumb question.  But what's a "riser" motor?  Did it come out of a postwar 333?  Very cool project.  I had a Marx clockwork before I got my first electric train.  The loco by itself ran so fast it would roll over on O27 curves!  Very cool project exhibiting lots of skill and imagination!

Not a dumb question at all.  A Marx Riser Gear locomotive refers to the way the gearset rises up in a slot when winding the mainspring, disengaging the spring from the axle gear.  It is used in place of a more complicated ratchet assembly that was utilized in the older Marx windup motors (which I call Ratchet Motors).

This is a stock Marx Riser Gear Motor:

If you look above the driver on the right, you will see a slot in the sideplate with a shaft sticking through it.  That is where the gearset rises up during winding.

Hope that helps!

absolutely amazing!  i think you're on to something by incorporating the slower running with the remote control capability from a prior video.  my problem with the windups is the speed and how how far they get between winds.  I think you've got it beat! More $$ to R&D!   

This is one answer to the speed issue, but it is counter-productive to distance traveled per wind.  While it runs for the same amount of time as a stock motor, since it is traveling slower because of the gearing, it travels a proportionally less distance.  With the 6 wheel drive and desire for pulling power, this was a necessary compromise.  To get more distance, 1) A bigger mainspring would be needed for more power, 2) It would need even more overdrive in the gearing, and 3) A governor with much better slow speed characteristics would need to be built/installed (think Walker-Fenn or the teleguv locos).  My next project for myself will incorporate some of these characteristics in order to have a longer run in both distance and time while maintaining a reasonable speed.  It will be based on a Marx Ratchet Motor and installed in a Commodore Vanderbilt shell... and yes, it is almost through R&D...

I keep having visions of Doc from Back to the Future

Steve, your Torpedo was fully capable of hitting 88 Miles Per Hour... we could have installed the flux capacitor in it instead of a governor... 

Fantastic great project. The locomotive looks awesome nice work

Well that is one creative project, for sure.  It looks neat, as well.

Beautiful; just beautiful.

Jim McC

had to watch the video again. I can't get over the length of the train! I never would have guessed a wind up would run that great!

I have seen this little baby in action....James did a GREAT job on this.

I'll have the #963 running on my clockwork display layout at the Ozarks Model Railroad Association train show in Springfield, Missouri this Saturday (the 14th).  I plan on bringing along some other custom windup locomotives, too... definitely the Radio Controlled Commodore Vanderbilt, and my Red CV with the heavily modified "bulletproof" ratchet motor.  Who knows... I may even bring the clockwork Triplex:

James,

Those custom clockwork locos are great!

Perhaps the wireless technology of the past will become our future? LOL

What Fun!  I look forward to your posts and seeing what you have accomplished.  Many folks have considered these windup trains as poor relatives of electric toy trains.  You have elevated them to an art form and a higher level of respect.  

A tip of the old fedora!

Keep up the great work!

Greg

Nice work! I like it!

Nice job! Looks very impressive pulling that train. Well done!