Williams motor upgrade kit. Which one do I need?

The F3 power kit is only for the F3s. Bachmann also lists a 4 wheel upgrade kit that appears to work with the other 4 wheeled truck engines including the GP7. Not sure what the difference is, probably the wheelbase.

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com...amp;products_id=3766

I don't know what trainworld is asking for the kit but you might be able to find a complete engine for less than the cost of the kit.

Pete

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Chris, call me mid afternoon.

 

Marty

OK. Call you on my way to work. 

Nice paint job, Chris. Looks great!

The F-3 has a lower roof profile than the other Williams 4 wheel diesel units. The F-3 gets flywheels that are larger diameter and lower in height than the other motors in the Williams line.

The GP-7 power kit fits on F-7, Shark, GP-7, FA and the Chuggington locos.

The F-3 kit with the short, large diameter flywheels will probably fit all those above except the GP-7. The Geep's body is too narrow for the F-3 flywheels.

The Chuggington locos that Pat's trains has on sale for $69 are cheaper than buying a power kit. The cheapest power kits I can find are from TRAINZ at $160 plus shipping.

A note of caution: eBay vendors tend to use pictures of power kits indiscriminately. I bought a F7/GP-7/Shark power kit because the picture showed an F-3 kit.

Remember the F3 diesel has a die cast chassis that is much thicker than the GP stamped steel chassis/floor. So it may be more than flywheel size. 

FWIW there are quite a few powered GP7s on the auction sites for under 100 bucks. Just make sure both trucks are powered and it has TBII. Some of the early Geeps only had one motor or no flywheels. 

When the Golden Memories series came out a few of the engines with only one motor like the NW2s and FAs were upgraded to two motors with flywheels. FAs are one of the engines that share its drive with the GP7.

Pete

I will most likely keep my eye out for a lo cost Williams  Geep and pull the trucks off it for the motors.  Thanks everyone. 

Chris, One other clue. If a box is shown make sure its mostly red. These are the later Williams with the trucks and motors you can use. The earlier engines came in mostly silver boxes or orange or yellow.. They may only have one motor or motors without flywheels.

Also, if you haven't already, check the Bachmann link above. It will show all the engines that use the same 4 wheel power trucks that your GP7 uses.

Later Box:

Pete

Chris, York is coming up.

Chris goto Ebay find a complete engine with  wheel trucks for less than the trucks alone at Bachmann. 

Example 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Willia...e:g:C1kAAOSwZQRYXADA

Pat's Trains has Chuggington locomotives on sale for $60. The motors and power trucks look the same as in the GP-7.

rtraincollector posted:

Chris goto Ebay find a complete engine with  wheel trucks for less than the trucks alone at Bachmann. 

 

Example 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Willia...e:g:C1kAAOSwZQRYXADA

 

That one only has one powered truck. Thats why you need to make sure what you are looking at is 2003 or later. The 4 wheel power kits have two motors.

Pete

woops sorry

 But still bet you can get a whole engine for less than what Bachmann wants for just the trucks

No need to be sorry. A single motor with E unit would work but to compare an engine to an upgrade kit for price it should have two motors or at least cost half as much as what a kit costs. They are out there or will be soon.

Pete

I just finished swapping in the Chuggington drives into a pair of Lionel GP7 MPC engines that the AC motors have been dying on for a while. Just chopped the frame in half and bolted one motor into each of the Geep's and reverse unit and plug between the engines. 

I used the side frames and steps from an old Williams GP9 . The Chuggington engine at $59 is the best deal comes with a reverse unit but no sound. The GP9 parts swapped in no problem.