Williams 9E - Reversing mechanism

I have a orange 9e and it does not have the reverse unit, but I will tell you it does pull fantastic ,I have the four car matching passenger set, and no slip at all.however you can install one at a reasonable price , by the way I have the full set for sale hint hint

Are you saying yours is just forward, with no reverse?  Do you know if yours came through from Williams with no reverse, or was it modified later?   I'm trying to get an idea of what I could expect in a Williams 9E, and the person selling it doesn't know enough about trains to tell me.   Thanks for the offer, I'm looking at the Girard two-tone green version.

I have 2 Willaims diesels (F3 & FP45) that the reverse part of the E-unit has stopped working and will only run forward.  You would think that Williams would make only one type of E-unit that works in both directions and not one that only runs forward.

Williams engines are great pulling engines.

Plan to replace with ERR in future.

You could also install an electronic E-unit from Dallee or Williams. Either can be locked in Forward. Or wire that 9E to run only in Forward.

Southwest Hiawatha is right about all the varieties in used Williams trains.

Sounds like there's at least a chance that the Williams unit has an E unit that can be locked out.  If not I could probably without too much difficulty install a simple double-throw switch like the McCoy and CMT locos have, as a manual forward-reverse switch.   

Thanks for all the information.  

 If not I could probably without too much difficulty install a simple double-throw switch like the McCoy and CMT locos have, as a manual forward-reverse switch.   

 Or you could install an old Lionel forward/reverse switch with the little brass handle. I don't know if the 9 chassis and body have the holes and slots to do that, but it would be simple electrically. The McCoy and CMT locos had can motors so the DPDT switch was hooked up to a bridge rectifier. The Lionel switch is designed to be used with an old Super Motor; if the 9 has a Bild-a-Loco the wiring is the same. 

good point.  thanks.  fun project.

I bought the Williams standard gauge 9E (for $250), and it just arrived.  

So this is interesting.  Two can motors, one for each axle.  No reversing mechanism - forward only.  Guess I won't have to worry about locking out the reverse.

It is definitely a Williams - WRL stamped on the underside of the frame.  

The pony trucks keep bouncing off the track, so I'll need to make some kind of spring arrangement to hold them down - meanwhile, they are off the locomotive and we're running 0-4-0.  

There is a small slot in the roof, probably for a reversing switch, but there is nothing there. No other extra holes in the cab.  Took the cab off to inspect and it's simplicity itself:  just the two cans sharing a rectifier, and the wires to the headlamps (both of which stay lit all the time running in forward). Has two smallish lead weights in the cab next to the motors, and I added a little more weight.  It has no trouble at all pulling my 5-car Girard passenger set (MTH, including the new MTH Girard baggage car).  First time I've been able to run my Girard cars on the layout. Very appealing. I'm happy with it!!

It more than likely has no flywheels. Almost all of the early Wms were like your 9E. Reverse units are quite easy to add. Why bother, with the early latch couplers you will not be doing any work in the switch yard

No flywheels, no tach strip, no nuthin.  I love it.  I was impressed with the two motors; it sure has all kinds of torque.  When you cut the juice, it stops very abruptly, no coasting.  I think you're exactly right about the reverser. So much more dependable this way.  This is a loop runner, and backing the cars into a siding will be by way of the hand that reaches out of the cloud...

I have a Girard 9E from MTH on 42 curves the pony wheels will bounce off the track. Larger curves no problems even switches.

I think the Girard cars are great. They can be run with a 9E two-tone green or Dark Green(I think the Dark Green matches the roofs) 385E,392E in either Gunmetal or Black.

The cars look good along side the big stuff on the layout or the small stuff.

Jim, I agree.  Like I said this was the first time I had the Girard cars running, and I was really pleased.  They are unlike other passenger sets, and they are a nice size.  They have a presence all their own, and the two tone green is a great combination.  I have a gunmetal 392, i'll have to get them running with that too, but for now i'm enjoying the 9E.  

Will have to try fitting some coil springs under the pony trucks to try to keep them in contact with the track.  I read somewhere that Tom Sefton didn't run his many 400E's on his layout because the pony wheels bounced off, and I remember thinking, man, he needs to do some track work!  But maybe he had a point.  As kids we used to run my dad's cast iron 1134 without the front or rear ponies for the same reason.  Fewer things to go wrong is often a good idea.  

hojack,

If the abrupt stops worry you. You can add flywheels down the road. I doubt that you'll be running twenty-five car consists. So, derailing will not pose a problem. I own six of the early Wms pieces. Once you learn the operation of the engine, slow smooth stops will come easy.

I scanned the page about your Standard Gauge Motor Unit in The Story of Williams Electric Trains, by John Hubbard, A Greenberg Publication (1987):

ReadingFan, thank you for posting, that is most informative.  That is exactly what is inside my 9E.  The motor frame plates extend upwards at the ends, and the small screws hold square lead weights in between the plates on either side of the motors.  The rectifier is stuffed between the cans. And that's all there is inside the 9E cab!

Thanks also for the reference, I don't know enough about Williams reproductions, and this seems like a good source.

I think that's the key, learning to be a little smoother on the throttle.  The old prewar open-armature motors i learned on as a kid, you flew around the curve and cut the throttle to watch the train coast to a stop in front of the station.  But that's hardly the responsible way to run a railroad.  The can motors are really much smoother response and better at slow speeds, and gradual accelerations and decelerations.  The 9E just surprised me, i'd never had a loco act like that.  I'm pretty excited about it actually, it's a sweet little unit.