MTH 44 Tonner pickup rollers.

Those rollers are on many MTH locos.  This should be posted over on the MTH products forum, and we might get an answer from MTH.

It's probably for tight radius operation, that would be my guess.  I haven't received my 44-Tonner yet, so I can't see if you could swap them for a similar roller without the insulation.

I swapped out my rollers for some doubles.  It works much better.  I also replaced two rubber traction tires with metal ones for increased ground.  She will creep through ANY turnout now.

David, how can one fit double rollers onto the 44-ton GE?  I'd love to see a picture. 

Given its short length, discontinuities in outside track power might be an issue on some switches.

I did note that the rollers have become dark, and as soon as I get a chance I will shine them up.  Probably corrosion from that polluted air in China.

David Minarik posted:

I swapped out my rollers for some doubles.  It works much better.  I also replaced two rubber traction tires with metal ones for increased ground.  She will creep through ANY turnout now.

Pictures and part # for the double rollers please!

I saw the wheel pictures, and I don't happen to have the lathe to make wheels, so that mod is probably out.  I wonder if you could buy the wheelset and pull the wheels without traction tires and use those?

John, we think alike!   When you get yours, you'll see that the single roller barely fits, and has a short throw arm.

Here's a picture of rollers.

Not much room there, don't know if even the short rollers I have from MTH would fit in there.

Here ya go, There is plenty of room for these to clear the front axle.  I had to grind off the side mounting tabs and put in shims to keep the roller assemble from turning but it works out very well.  I do not have a part#.  I have been begging MTH for years to bring a nice roller selection to York.  I guess people really need those tinplate shells that they carry from show to show to show.........

My biggest problem was the ground issue.  You might be able to find some tubing that fits the ID and OD.  The lip is easy to cut off the wheel.  No lathe needed there.

I hope this helps.

Dave

Very cool, I wish I could find that assembly!

Dave,

It appears that you used the pickup rollers from the Alco S-2. They measure 1 3/8" overall.

They only fit because you took out the original lobster claw coupler and T-bar when you installed Kadee couplers.

The double rollers from the S-2 will not fit due to the T-bar coupler mount.

From David Minarik, above:

"I also replaced two rubber traction tires with metal ones for increased ground.  She will creep through ANY turnout now."

David - how about some details on your "metal traction tires"; I've often thought about this, but have never tackled it - what did you use?

Thanks.

"They only fit because you took out the original lobster claw coupler and T-bar when you installed Kadee couplers."

Aha!  Thanks, CTR, for restoring, for the time being, my self-confidence.

D500 posted:

From David Minarik, above:

"I also replaced two rubber traction tires with metal ones for increased ground.  She will creep through ANY turnout now."

David - how about some details on your "metal traction tires"; I've often thought about this, but have never tackled it - what did you use?

Thanks.

See the 44 ton review thread

ctr posted:

They only fit because you took out the original lobster claw coupler and T-bar when you installed Kadee couplers.

Bummer, I wondered why he had so much room!

Looking at a stocker, the T pin is what gets in the way.  The lobster claw is OK.

Dave

Right, but how would the coupler be held in place, no room even for a flathead screw, unless you modify roller too.  G

What he said.  The T-pin is kinda necessary.

Its up to you guys to figure out.  The answer is out there.   

According to MTH parts personnel, they only make a pickup roller that has insulated ends for the GE 44 ton diesel.

So if you desire a solid metal pickup roller for this engine, you will have to get it somewhere else--or fabricate it yourself.  

If the MTH person was Midge, she's right by definition.

If it wasn't, then I wonder why they had a stock of these at York and I have some on something else?

I have 3 MTH 44 tonners. As originally configured they would stall at slow speeds on some Atlas #5 switches. 

George Galyo (GGG) was able to get me 6 full width pickup rollers that I used to replace the original rollers with insulated ends,

Now all 3 44 tonners operate smoothly at slow speed through the switches that previously caused stalling.

I wish that I could provide the part number for these rollers.

There must (probably) be a reason why MTH is using those insulated end rollers on some eqpt.  Does anyone know why?

I would say it’s to keep the engine from shorting out going over some switches where the roller would hit both hot and ground rails at the same time. 

I've never had that happen on my Gargraves, but I suppose there may be some out there on which it would happen.

Tight curves and small radius switches.