Brass Little Joe Repair Manual- What Ajin SHOULD have done

u18b Sep 8, 2014

  1. u18b

    u18b TrainBoard Supporter

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    I just posted a repair manual for the Overland brass Little Joe.

    Might be helpful to some owners.

    This one belongs to Mark Spookshow.
    It was absolutely GORGEOUS-- but ran like cr&^%&^$&^^p.

    All fixed now, actually BETTER than new.

    The document is here.
    http://u18b.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/LitJOErepairMANUAL.pdf

    [​IMG]


    Remember, Spookshow buys stuff for his encyclopedia, evaluates it, and then sells it to get his money back.
    So if you are interested in this particular piece I have improved, contact him.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I wish both the Internet, and you guys had been around, back when I had N scale brass.
     
  3. u18b

    u18b TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks, (hey it's not too late!)

    My Kumata book is on hold because of the massive EP-2 project I'm in the middle of.

    But one day I will publish a PDF of how to improve KMT locos.

    I've worked on one of almost every single Kumata loco ever made. And I have not failed to make a good runner out of any of them (although the original NJ EP-2 was one of the worst).
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I parted with my Biploar long ago. It's been in the hands of Kirk Reddie ever since... :)
     
  5. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks a million Ron, you really saved my bacon on this one. It should make some Milwaukee Road modeler (who actually runs his trains) very happy [​IMG]

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  6. sandro schaer

    sandro schaer TrainBoard Member

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    what a great write-up ! another superb bearden-mod !


    some thoughts though. you mentioned a previous owner. could it be he cut the boards on top of the motor in two parts ? i assume if it would be one part only it might help to keep both motors in place.

    what about using one single "double-ended" motor instead of the two ? first thought was a kato e8/9 motor.
     
  7. u18b

    u18b TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sandro,
    Good questions.

    1. I'm certain the previous owner did not cut the boards. They were made as two pieces. But I agree with you..... if they had made it as one piece it would have made the whole setup more rigid.

    2. I gave considerable thought to just putting a big single motor in there. But that would have been an even bigger mod. I would have to find a way to secure the motor. Then, I would have to re-create the pick-up tabs that go up to the light board.

    While ONE motor is much better, it would have been harder. I just went the easy route and it worked out well.
     
  8. u18b

    u18b TrainBoard Supporter

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    Turn the sound up on your computer. :D

    See how quiet the repaired Little Joe runs.

    Sorry the format got stretched. Don't have time to go fix it.
    Purpose is to highlight how quiet the loco is-- not my crappy video editing and posting skills are.

    http://youtu.be/sP4aJr_Iuzg
     
  9. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Well Ron, I've said it before and I'll say it again - you are a genius! My gosh, this thing runs like a Kato now. Well done!

    Here's my final review -

    http://www.spookshow.net/omijoe.html

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  10. Xmtrman

    Xmtrman TrainBoard Member

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    Nice review, as always, Mark.

    I clicked on the targeted ad banner at the bottom and it was a page about using Fluke test instruments to aid in making your industrial motor drives run smoothly and efficently.
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I see it is now listed on eBaY.
     
  12. PGE-N°2

    PGE-N°2 TrainBoard Member

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    Wow! I wish I had the money to afford it, both to support spookshow and because it sounds like his reworking of it was rather successful.
     
  13. PGE-N°2

    PGE-N°2 TrainBoard Member

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    Hmmmm... I keep seeing it come back up on Ebay... I wonder if he'd accept payment on the installment plan?:startled:
     
  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I lot of folks I know would love to own it. A lot of folks I know just don't have the funds. :( Thankfully what I would model in MILW electrics, is an area sans Little Joes. And nobody, (except scratch builders and maybe someone using Shapeways), makes Boxcabs, yet.
     

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