SWAPPING COUPLERS AND TESTING THE ATHEARN BLUE BOX "SUPER POWER DRIVE" F7s!

Here's the second installment featuring an A-B set of Athearn blue box "super power drive" F7s that I picked up on Ebay! hope you enjoy the video and thanks for watching!

[@SantaFeBob]

Athearn blue box engines and cars have always been my favorite. They don’t need sound decoders; they make their own growl from the motor. Thank you for sharing.

[@randallellison6421]

That's very true, you can always tell a Blue Box just from the sound of the motor, thanks for watching!

[@leroyducharme2477]

I use Kadee #30 series or the more recent 242 series gearboxes. I use the Kadee drill and tape set with the underset couplers as those tangs are thick. The details on the side of the trucks have to be bent out of the way of the ladders.

[@TheTrainFreak]

Nice locos! Gotta have good couplers because tractive effort means nothing if the coupler doesn't hold up. - Jason

[@randallellison6421]

Thanks Jason and good point! Still gotta work on the track cleaning boxcar though. Not only will it need new couplers, it's also going to get a new set Athearn Genesis of trucks with electrical pickups as well. Hopefully this fixes some of the issues I've been having with it recently, thanks for watching!

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

cant beat an old blue box loco

[@randallellison6421]

You sure can't Joe, thanks for watching!

[@zeefantasytrains944]

That was great! Good job showing the coupler change and it was awesome watching them run. Congrats! They look terrific!

[@randallellison6421]

Thanks Zee, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@claytons8263]

When I buy pre owned engines the first thing that I do is sperate the trucks (ONE END AT A TIME STARTING A END THE END WITH THE LIGHT) from the chassis then disassemble the trucks by removing the worm drive cover them remove the trucks then mark the left side wheels (WITH A SHARPY ON THE INSIDE OF WHEELS) THEN ON THE BOTTOM of the trucks carefully remove the plastic plate so the wheels can be removed now you can remove the wheel sets (and place them in the order that you took them out) now you can separate the truck casing to reveal the drive gears remove the gears and spray them w gun scrubber (that's what I use) spray the gears and the brass worm gear (BE CAREFUL NOT TO LOOSE THE BEARING AND WASHER) really well do the same with the wheels and gear casing (BOTH SIDES) make sure there dry install the washer and brass square bearing. Then get some plastic safe oil and grease put a small dab of grease on the bottom part of the gear post and a dab on the gears them selfs and ON THE WORM GEAR THEN ONE DROP OF OIL ON THE BEARING SHAFT ON WORM GEAR BOTH SIDES, at this point you can take a stainless/brass brush and clean wheel surfaces now you can replace the wheels back on to the trucks. (The wheels that you marked need to be placed on the left side of the truck) and replaced back on the locomotive chassis install the worm gear and replace the worm gear cap. Now you can do the same to the B side (END WITH OUT THE LIGHT OR WHERE THE BREAK WHEEL IS LOCATED) of the engine. The oil That I Use is LABELLE #107 The grease that I use is LABELLE #106 Both are plastic safe and recommended by my guys at the hobby store(Whistle Stop) in Portland Oregon. This will make a big difference in the operation.

[@randallellison6421]

Great points, I also use the same kit as well as a special cleaning fluid, also made by Labelle, on the gears as well, this further helps with lubrication process as well as clean the parts, just spray, let it set for a bit and use the cloths supplied with the kit to wipe off the access fluid. Be sure to use this motor cleaning kit in a well ventilated area as it has a very strong smell! Thanks for the reminder and thanks for watching!

[@claytons8263]

@@randallellison6421 What kind of motor cleaner?

[@randallellison6421]

@claytons8263 it's a kit made by Labelle, it comes with swabs, cleaning pads and fluid (the fluid also aids in lubricating the parts as well as cleaning them).

[@claytons8263]

@@randallellison6421 Thank you I will look into that.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Nice set of Locomotives , super cool

[@randallellison6421]

Thanks James, glad you enjoyed it!

[@mysticrailroad]

nice details on the trucks. nice runners!

[@randallellison6421]

Yeah, for being old blue box locomotives, the truck details are very good, plus the super power drive makes them really efficient pullers too, thanks for watching!

[@crsrdash-840b5]

It's called the swing hanger. It's used over the truck equalizer springs to stablize them from vertical motion.

[@randallellison6421]

Thanks for the info and for watching!

[@MLWQC]

Nice loco and video

[@randallellison6421]

Thanks!

[@richarddemaagd7895]

Hi Randall atheann locos are built like tanks so easy to tune up and detail I have enjoyed rebuilding the f units that I have

[@randallellison6421]

They really are, they're some of my favorite locomotives to run, thanks for watching!

[@steve87thpsap]

Is that a dead fly? I thought it was a part, but nope dead fly. You need a he shed for desk, it think you desk might be smaller than mine, I have 2x4 table. This was a good video. It was fun seeing put things back together. Cool to see them running.

[@randallellison6421]

Yeah Steve87th PSAP, I didn't catch that until I was almost done reassembling the locomotive, I am looking at sheds now but haven't found anything that really fits the bill yet. Glad you enjoyed the test video of the Athearn units, they'll definitely make an excellent addition to the fleet, thanks for watching!

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

Those 'B' units i use for spare parts for my athearn GP7/9's Also, i wish they made 'indestructible' motor mounts that don't denigrate with age. i like athearn they were the Volkswagen beetle of model trains

[@randallellison6421]

Very true, they were tough as nails!

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Cool video, Randall. They look good and ran smooth in tandem. Are you worried it dropped the freight cars? Otherwise, nice additions to the fleet!

[@randallellison6421]

Thanks Anthony! The track cleaning boxcar behind the locomotives has been giving me some trouble lately. Since the car is still equipped with the McHenry couplers it came with, I think I'll swap them out for Kadees plus I have a pair of Athearn Genesis trucks with electrical wires attached to them that I will probably put on as well. Hopefully those two things will take care of the uncoupling issues, thanks for watching!

[@PapaMav]

I like SMT's channel as well. Do you have a coupler height gauge? Worth the buy.

[@randallellison6421]

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do, and I agree, they're well worth the money!

[@williamreagan9918]

IS the dead FLY part of it!!

[@randallellison6421]

No, I didn't notice the fly until I was almost finished filming the video, lol! Thanks for watching!

[@victortalkingmachines7403]

its pretty obvious this is NOT running well at all !!!

[@randallellison6421]

It's actually an issue with the track being dirty from lack of running, several of my locomotives do this even after being serviced, but after they run a half hour or so, they iron out and run pretty good. Plus the layout isn't in the greatest location either with with some extreme heat and cold temperatures that occurs here throughout the year which also has an effect on their performance. Thanks for watching!