McCoy E-2 Motor Mount Replacement

Hojack to the rescue - nice work. Hey David, want to make some parts for me?

Jim

Nice work,

Reminds me to take the roof off of my E2 and have a look at those motor mounts.

nice work!

David,

I agree.  Nice work!

What is the weight of the steel mounts you made in comparison to the original McCoy mounts.

Bob

Could also cast out of pewter

Jagrick posted:

Could also cast out of pewter

I've never cast anything, but I envision pewter being a bit soft. Curious how would it hold up on a heavy engine?

Steve

The pewter is actually fairly hard and would work for something like this. I would not use for long, fine details but this bulk it would work. Could make a mold off of an original piece for for pppproper and easy replication.

there are different formulations of pewter and some are quite rigid

Probably pretty good in compression, if the casting is thick enough, there's no way you could crack it. Should tap pretty good for the attach points, only soft spot may be the flange that connects to the mechanism - that would have to be thickened up.

sure would look nice as a Y1 knockoff in Glacier Park...

That's my plan if I can find one at the right price!

Jim

Thanks Steve. Your instructions for how to get into an E2 are helpful - it's a puzzle to figure out otherwise.

The hangers we made are kind of quick and dirty, nothing to show off, but since they're hidden anyway all we needed was function.  I don't have casting capabilities, but the welding shop in the downstairs of the barn (the train room is upstairs) is pretty well equipped.  Took the important measurements off the McCoy hanger, and then welded together a short piece of pipe, a washer on top with a nut welded inside it, and a larger washer on the bottom with the drilled holes for mounting screws, all zapped together with the little MIG welder.  Not a production item, but enough to get Steve out of a scrape.

The E2 really is a nice bit of tinplate engineering - to have a loco so big but able to navigate 42 curves is pretty amazing. It's sort of quadruple articulated, and the secret is those hangers inside. It's a wobbly handful of an engine to pick up, but once on the track it's pretty nice.

david

More than a professional job Steve and hojack great job thanks for sharing Steve

What a nice solution, looks great. 

Steve were these turned down on a lath from Bar stock?

Since they are hollow and there is no real reason for the hollow center, they could be made solid.
One could turn down a piece of T61 aluminum bar stock, then drill the hole and tap the center hole.
The aluminum would be lighter than the steel.

This would easier than casting

I like your idea, I'd turn from steel - more road hugging weight should not be a problem for this loco. Would love to see a tug of war with it and a 402E to see who wins!

Jim

RonH posted:

What a nice solution, looks great. 

Steve were these turned down on a lath from Bar stock?

Since they are hollow and there is no real reason for the hollow center, they could be made solid.
One could turn down a piece of T61 aluminum bar stock, then drill the hole and tap the center hole.
The aluminum would be lighter than the steel.

This would easier than casting

Ron

Not shown in the pictures is a stud on top of the motor that goes through the steel hanger and has a 1/4-20 nut on top. The mount opening is to clear the nut and stud.

Steve

Yes, as Steve notes the hangers do need to be hollow because there's another hanger bolt below it.  It's the magic that makes the E-2 so flexible. Of course they could still be turned, with the hollow, but that's a decidedly higher tool set than we had at hand for a weekend fixit. 

d

The casting can be altered as needed in the form. If I could get an original I would be willing to give it a shot. Once mold is made not hard to produce a limited run.

Jagrick posted:

The casting can be altered as needed in the form. If I could get an original I would be willing to give it a shot. Once mold is made not hard to produce a limited run.

I sent you an e-mail the other day and offered to send my good mount for your study and mold making.

Steve

I did not see your email. I'll look again and please resend. I will be glad to try and do this and then return your mount and the duplicate as well to see if it would fit Rick

I was thinking a bit (dangerous). I've been doing polyurethane casting using silicone molds. The parts seem to be really tough, if the part walls were thick enough, you could probably get by with a cast plastic part. Pretty cheap to make.

The top of the hanger is threaded to take the machine screw holding the cab on. If cast out of pewter, you will need to drill and tap this hole. I don't know that I would want to trust threads in resin holding the weight of the engine, over time I'm pretty sure they would strip out.

Good point David - possible to put a stud up through the bottom and use a nut with some locktite on top? Any clearance above the engine body bracket? Could probably thread the plastic just to hold the stud in place in the plastic part, a good sized washer inside would spread the load. You going to Pittsburgh?

Jagrick posted:

I did not see your email. I'll look again and please resend. I will be glad to try and do this and then return your mount and the duplicate as well to see if it would fit Rick

Rick, the mount was mailed this morning. I also packed one of each size of the McCoy wagon wheels. These are the plastic repro ones that look just like their cast originals. Take a look and see if making them is doable. There is a decent market for the wheels if you decide to make some. I know I could use about 20 or more of each size.

Steve

Mount and wheels arrived yesterday. Will work on mount first, but think it will work pretty well. WIll likely thicken up top part as needed. Wheels would be next and we will see how they turn out-Rick

Steve,

Finally got mold making material in and will hopefully get molds made this weekend and do initial pour. Once am sure mold is good will send back your original with sample and see how it fits. Rick

Jagrick posted:

Steve,

Finally got mold making material in and will hopefully get molds made this weekend and do initial pour. Once am sure mold is good will send back your original with sample and see how it fits. Rick

Thanks Rick. While not a high demand item like steam cylinders, yokes and circus wagon wheels, it would be great to have a source available.

Steve

Hopefully wheels will workout as well and am planning their mold attempt as well. Rick

Found this thread looking for the e2 motor pivots that are below this piece. Has and on tried making for made a replacement. Or replacement for the window frames  .  Jim I have the stl file for the side frames.

Actually have mold to make motor mounts, cast out of hard pewter but work great. $30 for a pair plus shipping

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

Jagrick posted:

Steve,

Finally got mold making material in and will hopefully get molds made this weekend and do initial pour. Once am sure mold is good will send back your original with sample and see how it fits. Rick

Thanks Rick. While not a high demand item like steam cylinders, yokes and circus wagon wheels, it would be great to have a source available.

Steve

Circus wagon wheels needed at a reasonable price.
Saw some that were sold and for that price I could of bought more McCoy flats with circus wagons (Problem is that all the usually have zinc pest). Question on the wheels that McCoy had were chrome plated.Do you think this help cause the zinc pest?  Sorry for side tracking the post