Williams GG1 1990's

fisherdoc: The problem you are having with the front trucks is probably due to the "fast-angle" wheels. I bought mine in the late 80's and had the same problem. I changed them out with postwar wheels and axels. Just be very careful when you spread the truck frames. Hope this helps.

I’m surprised that you rarely hear anything good about Williams.  I’ve had a number of Williams locos including two scale GG1s (converted to PS3) and a traditional size GG1.  My oldest is the traditional size GG1 (new in 2001) so nothing as old as yours.  In my experience, Williams locos are good runners and basically bullet proof.  The only downsides are less detail than some of the other importers and conventional operation only.

Lehigh74 posted:

I’m surprised that you rarely hear anything good about Williams...

As well here too. The first single-motored GG1 from the mid 70's was quite a disappointment, but it was all uphill from there and I have several early SD's, F7's, FP40's that are very reliable, and several early & later/recent FM's & GG1's that are even better.

I have two Williams GG1's from the late `80's or early `90's which I have found to be great runners. Initially I had a similar problem with the front trucks. At the time I called Williams service, and Larry Harrington there said it was simply a matter of not enough spring tension holding the truck down. He suggested adding one or two flat washers at the top of the spring to increase downward force and to prevent the spring from creeping upward (hence exerting less downward pressure). Simple solution.

I have several Williams Locos, including a GG-1, and they are all good runners. I wouldn't take anything for any of them.

I have about 15 Williams locos and their all great runners. Except for the lightning speed well built items. 

The front truck problem is almost certainly due to spring tension.  Sometimes the spring works its way into the hole, so the washer trick will help with that.  Just a LITTLE stretching of the spring may also be necessary.  Also, make sure the front truck linkage is not binding, and that there is no corrosion on the underside of the frame that inhibits the free movement of the front truck.  I had a similar problem with a K Line traditional sized GG1 and these steps took care of it.

Bruce Clouette posted:

The front truck problem is almost certainly due to spring tension.  Sometimes the spring works its way into the hole, so the washer trick will help with that.  Just a LITTLE stretching of the spring may also be necessary.  Also, make sure the front truck linkage is not binding, and that there is no corrosion on the underside of the frame that inhibits the free movement of the front truck.  I had a similar problem with a K Line traditional sized GG1 and these steps took care of it.

Yep - the washers were too small. I bought one for a never-done scratch-bashing project, and it had a truck issue. Bigger washer.

But, though Williams post-brass stuff has never been my thing, typically they are solid products, and, if not truly "bullet-proof", they weren't bad, though I have had trouble with them here and there. Their die-cast steam locos are typically pretty poor runners because of the silly gearing (their "recent" Ten-Wheeler is just the opposite, though - smooth and slow).

The Williams Samhongsa second-gen brass from the late 80's - early 90's is great. 

Well, I am at wits end with this GG 1 and ANOTHER Williams GG 1 of the same exact vintage both bought together in the 90's and never run till now. I don't see any spring other than the one for the coupler. I see a washer at the truck mount but that;s it. In addition to the end trucks not staying on the tracks, I noticed some herky-jerky movement and the engine popping into neutral. Turn out the end trucks are so low the rounded cow catcher thing is hitting the center rail causing shorts! I can't see a way to fix this either since the truck is one piece. I'm wondering if I can get different trucks, i.e., will Lionel GG1 trucks fit?

Well I FINALLY resolved the pilot truck issue with the Williams GG1. I have two of these GG1's purchased new around 1990. The pilot trucks on bot units derailed often and the bottom lip of the pilot truck strikes the center rail causing sporadic shorts. 

These trucks are attached exactly like the Lionel GG1 with a clip and a screw. The Williams has a washer in addition to the screw. This suspension clip must be bent to allow a lot of vertical play in the truck. This just about eliminates derailments but they are still finiky trucks - VERY sloppy on the track due to the wheel/axle design. 

The only solution to the truck lip striking the rail was to take a Dremel with a cut off wheel and I sliced off the thin bottom lip of each truck. I finished it off with a fine file and painted it with this Japanese model paint. That took care of the rail clearance problem. Now both run so much better and thus far it seems the derailing problems are solved. The truck shorting out was causing herky jerky movement and that was causing derailments. 

The modification is completely invisible and no one would ever know. While researching this on the internet one writer mentioned that back when these engines were new he called Williams about this very problem. Their solution was to place a piece of electrical tape on the bottom of the truck lip! Mine was so low it would catch the joints in track sections can you imagine with tape! That was a really LAME solution. 

I'll be running both of these engines in the coming days especially now that we are hunkering down in hibernation. Hopefully they will continue to work well!

I added my own spring&washer set up for good downforce; also shaving some of the "plow", but not much. Also massaged the guide slots longer for 0-27 (with short shaft articulated coupler on head end car because the fixed GG coupler goes wide enough to bind at the knuckle & drag normal cars off.)