Synchronized Side Rods

Very interesting comments, thank you ...

 

In Europe, three and four cylinder locomotives (not mallets or articulateds) were not so unusual as compared to American practice. Many of the English passenger express engines, 4-6-0 and 4-6-2 etc which were of modest size by American standards, had three or four cylinders. Part of the reason was more limited side clearances, I believe. And part of it was better balancing at speed and smoother operation, at the expense of higher maintenance.

Took the new Legacy AC-12 and put them out of sync. It wasn't that difficult. Just remove the front engine assembly (1 screw), disconnect the drive shaft, rotate the drivers to the position you want them, reconnect drive shaft, and re-install screw that hold the engine assembly on.

My new to me Lionel Big Boy does not have the side rods sync'd up......this is the very early Lionel BB, is that how these guys came from the factory?? Sync'd up would be odd in my book!

Laid - did you mean engine?  If so, every thing you said makes sense.  The motor is the electrical component that spins the drive shaft.  The engines are the two mechanisms beneath the boiler.  All of the above are the locomotive.

Yeah Bob, that's what I meant... Front Engine assembly not motor, there's only 1 motor in the locomotive. Was typing faster than I was thinking.