Large Scale Central

K-Line locomotive quality?

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

I bought a K-line US Army diesel locomotive off ebay yesterday. I’ve heard of them, but no idea of their quality, or what one should do to them to convert to battery power. May try it first on track power, since I still have that hooked up for my Pioneer Zephyer.

#2

I bought one of their speeders. Same one as now sold by USA. The power pick-up system on it failed after only a few hours. It’s been a shelf queen since.

#3

I thought K-line only did 0 gauge? Hmmmmm.

#4

I got the K-line Army locomotive. Kept blowing a fuse on track power, had planned to put it on battery anyway. So took off the skates/wire(pretty much like USA blocks) and it seems to be doing fine. Need to add some weight. I did put a Kadee 820 on the back, had some huge knuckle coupler, sort of like a Bachmann. Using an Aristo Army box car for the battery car. Using an old 2 channel Aristo TE with a 18 volt B&D battery. Will work on that in the heat of the day, warming up here in Nebraska, 100 tomorrow, they say.

#5

I found I had cracked gears which let the axle shaft turn inside the gear. First fix was super glue it together and glue in the axle shafts and pin them with brass pins to keep them from rotating inside the gear. Second loco I got had the same problem. I put 5/16 brass bands around the gear shaft after I had super glued it together. Then put the axle shafts back inside(tight fit this time!) and drilled/pinned it again, just in case. Not sure if this is the same problem USA gears have, but was not sure if they would fit in the K-line motor block. Plus this was fun!

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/jerrybarnes/Army%20Train/ArmyKgears.JPG)

#6

Nice fix Jerry

#7

The more I work with these K-line trucks, the more I see their quality is really lacking.

#8

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/jerrybarnes/Army%20Train/ArmyKgears.JPG)

I find that knurled wheel very interesting. I wonder if it adequately takes the place of a rubber “traction tire?” I think it probably works better than a “slick.”

#9

I thought that was the gripper for a rubber tire.

#10
Jon Radder said:
I thought that was the gripper for a rubber tire.
Could be, never seen anything like it before. It would make for rough riding for the crew, wouldn't it?
#11

K-Line is ‘cheaper’ than Lionel in O-gauge - So, if it stays the same quality-wise in relation to Lionel’s LS, then they should be pretty good… as paperweights.