So I have a question about this locomotive - how is it around LGB’s smallest-radius track? I see two of these on eBay and they’re very intriguing, but I have tight radii track around the dining room and I don’t want to buy something this heavy that’ll conk people on the noggin when it can’t negotiate the curves.
Thanks!
No issues at all. I believe all LGB locos and cars are designed to manuever their smallest radius curves.
I am watching one of these on eBay - does anyone know if it’ll run well on the small-radius LGB track curves? I’ve found some locos don’t have trouble with these curves but then have great difficulty navigating the small-radius switches - that “back and forth” does 'em in.
It will navigate the R1 curve just fine, but you nailed it on the “back and forth”…That causes trouble!!! “Runs well” is a matter of opinion, I find most LGB engines will handle R1 switches but from my experience this is not one of them (Oddly enough, niether is the much smaller wheel-based Forney).
Mine negotiates the the R1 switches just fine. My complaint about this unit is that I really have to baby it period to get it to run at all. It is typically very jerky and most times just simply stops running. Me thinks it’s time to have TOC take a look at it.
Tim,
generally the Mallett drive was very reliable and forgiving of track as it has many power pickups. The pickups were prone to contamination and require you to clean the back of the driving wheels on a regular basis. If your inside wheel faces are clean, then I would check each wheel individually for power pickup as you may have an open circuit at several carbon brush pickups, if the loco repeatedly shuts down.
I once purchased a mint LGB Alco diesel #2055 on eBay. The loco looked brand new. I ran it and it was perfect, until the first switch frog. The loco stopped dead. I thought with four sliders and twelve wheel pickups, how could the loco stall on a frog. I checked the power pickups and only one wheel was picking up power. Someone had tampered with the drive blocks and not assembled them correctly when installing the lower drive block cover. I installed the covers correctly and the loco had pickup on all wheels and sliders.Train-LI has the silver lens cover in stock. Call them for parts availability, or better yet e-mail them with the model and part you need.
train-li-usa.com is the web site for further information…
For more reliable operation, you might rub a very small amount of Dexron III automobile transmission fluid on the treads and backs of the wheels. It seems to clean and lubricate them, doesn’t cause sticky oil buildup, and improve electrical conductivity. I don’t know why or how, but it works for me!
I also have an original design 2085D with three wire trucks. Does anyone have a cheat sheet on what I have to do to try and convert these to a four wire setup to install an emotion XL?
I’ve got a spare one of these locomotives and a sound car that have become shelf queens. I’d like to make some room in my shop, so if you’re interested in them, let me know.
If I can find a buyer within about 100 miles of Sacramento, CA, we can avoid shipping – this puppy IS heavy.
I converted my 2085 with a Zimo decoder, prosmoke, and rear uncoupler via a servo.
hardest part was getting a speaker installed that would sound good.
Converting motor blocks was like any other 3 wire block, just had to trim the motor lead and add a wire to the motor.
Dick Friedman said:
I’ve got a spare one of these locomotives and a sound car that have become shelf queens. I’d like to make some room in my shop, so if you’re interested in them, let me know.
Hi Dick… Could you email me with particulars on the locomotive???
Thanks…
This 2085 is a very low mileage green number in its original box. My mother in law is asking me to sell it for her. It was, as far as I know, never run outside, but only on an indoor layout, and not very often.
I saw one in Richmond at the Great Train Expo today for $525. I’m open to $450 or best offer, plus shipping. If you’re within 100 miles of Sacramento, there will be no shipping as we can arrange transfer.
The sound car is an LGB box car, I think. I haven’t seen it in the shop for a couple of days. The sound card is as far as I know, not LGB. I’ll sell it for $100.
If you’re coming to the West Coast Regional Meet in Sacramento June 20 - 22, we can negotiate the transfer and I’ll throw the sound car in for $25.00!
Thanks for the information, Dick…
Not sure which way to go at this point…