Holy moly now that’s just impressive! It’s good to know you can make a B unit powered! Seriously can’t get over those 4 horns all sounding at once. LOL
Thanks! Haha, right? Originally I was planning to modify an exisiting B unit frame, but had never had one, so quickly realized I had to get creative. Splicing the A frames together was tricky, but I was determined. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Oh it is, I hope to get more cars for it over time. The tractive effort at slow speed is just awesome. It’d be fun to have it on a massive club layout sometime :-)
This is awesome! I have had this idea for several years and never got around to it. Main reason I never did it is because I am too cheap to buy all the parts needed.. But I'm glad to see someone created this lash up and it works! I did not think of adding that many horns but I like the sound. I also like how you made the B unit frame. That was one of the things I was debating the most on how to do. Never know I may actually still do this some day.
Thanks! It ended up being not too bad getting parts from ebay either individually or poached from otherwise junk engines. It was a fun project! If you end up doing something, post a link to share! Thanks for commenting!
I did this same thing to a lionel amtrak ABA set from the mpc Era. I didn't add the horns but I did add a sound board to one of the A-units and for the B unit I used an A unit chassis with the front corners filed down a bit fit pretty good.
Greetings tyfude, I just purchased a 2343 A-B-A. I make repair video's and am doing some research, when I stumbled upon your video here. I love what you have done! Immediately subbed, liked, and am now commenting. These beasts can navigate O-27? I would not have guessed. You do good wiring. Nice and clean!!
Thanks, man. I love working on these trains. I have some other mods going - I like putting air whistles in some tenders, for instance. I like repairs too. I’m at a point where I know I can fix just about any issue on postwar equipment. It is a fabulous hobby. Thanks for the kind words! I’ll sub your channel too :-)
Oh, by the way, not sure what I said but I haven’t had these on anything tighter than 042. They can maybe do 036, but I haven’t tried yet. I think they can go tighter but it looks a bit silly on tight curves IMO. I try to run everything on 072 if I can 😎
However he did say he has them wired in series, so the load to the transformer is likely less then the two original motors, but the speed will be 6 times slower. I don't have a set up like this or a amp meter to prove it but my theory should be correct. Now it might vary as to how he wired in the reverse unit, the best way would be all fields wired in series, and then all armatures wired in series then to the reverse unit, to work as to my theory. I like the horn idea as well, you get a bit of difference with many, to make it sound a bit like a big dual car horn.
Totally awesome job! Absolutely love your quality work! I just wonder how you transport it from your test track to your layout, with no way to unplug each engine. Does it take two people to move the three units as one? I’m a new viewer of your channel. Really enjoy seeing your take on my favorite Lionel train, the Santa Fe War Bonnet F3. I own four of them. Jerry:>)
Great question. I used a long skinny board and shifted the units onto that, then moved it carefully to the track. I actually ended up adding JST connections and have not hade any issues yet with the horns getting a ground. I'm kinda torn because the connectors are bulky, but it does make it easier to move around. It is fun to modify this stuff. Thanks for your comment!
Impressive. How did you cut and weld [?] or glue [?] that B unit frame??? That would be an awesome video to see how that was done. Short of an actual video, can you give a blow by blow explanation of how to do it?
Oh yeah, for sure. Good question. It’s bolted from underneath with a small piece of flat spring steel crossing each narrow spliced area. I cut the two frames - the front off of one, just in front of the fuel tank. Then the back of another. I cut each a little long and sanded them to butt together evenly at the correct total length. I made a wooden jig to hold the two pieces tightly together so I could drill and tap bolts in. I used M5 bolts since it’s what I had. There are 4 bolts in a row on each side two on either side of the splice- it came out very strong and secure but with a bit of lateral flex. So from the top side I toe-bolted one m2 bolt diagonally on each side - I sank those bolts and covered it with epoxy sanded and painted silver. This is very secure now, but it was a bit over complicated perhaps- originally, I wanted to solder the joints, which is what the jig was for. I could not get it hot enough to flow the solder. If I had it to do over I might like to use a wire drive to spot weld it then grind it. I don’t have a welder right now. I might also play around with making the splice somewhere else, for example in the middle of the fuel tank area. It was an experiment, for sure!
This. Is. Incredible. Only thing that worries me is that do the finger boards and drum on the E unit get hot from the current draw from all 6 motors? I’m planning on doing this to some old Lionel ALCOs I got.
Great question! I have not had that problem yet after quite a bit of run time. Things do get warm but no failures yet blasting this thing with my ZW transformer and 9 aluminum cars. Expect scale speeds as speed is traded for tractive effort at this load. I honestly think it could pull me if I could get on it some how, haha! My dual motor Alcos haul pretty fast though, so things vary of course. What's fun is how the parts are interchangeable to a degree, so mods are pretty easy without much hacking. Have fun with your mod and share a link if you have a project to share! Thanks for commenting!
Great question. It’s an 1945 ZW. That transformer has no problem running this set up with 11 aluminum cars and it hauls pretty darn fast full open. It’s top speed is noticeably, but not significantly limited by the draw. 18 volts is the max on those, but runs smoothly at about 8-10 volts. The thing is, with the 6 motors the slow speed is amazing though. It crawls and has major tractive effort. I believe I could double the cars. I’ll slowly add more cars as I can afford them :-) I appreciate your interest.
Hi there! I’m using an early ZW transformer- as for the amps, I’ll do a test and get back to you. See my other clip of it hauling 8 aluminum cars on O72 curves. The speed is set at about 14-16 volts in that clip. Due to the draw, I have traded some speed for tractive effort. It still gets going pretty fast, but also great for scale speed. I just haven’t measured the draw. Thanks for commenting!
I chose a spot to splice near one of the trucks, then filed a flat area on the undersides and bridged the two with a small steel plate and 4 bolts that I tapped into the frame material. Added locktite. Very secure. And fairly decrete. I’m certain this could be accomplished others ways ideally welding and grinding perhaps.
@@TwistedMacGyversTrains that would probably work especially with some steel plates crossing the slice and epoxy. I made a simple wooden jig to hold the frame halves straight and at the proper length for gluing/bolting. Goood luck - share results!
One awesome job in wiring the 6 Moters and 4 horns.
@@nickltrains6952 thanks! Fun project for sure :-)
Love the growling sound these locomotives make. This is amazing and I have to do this!😊
It was a fun project- not too hard- great results!
Outstanding. Great job. Now that’s a Lashup!!!
Thanks a lot!!! Lots of fun here :-)
Holy moly now that’s just impressive! It’s good to know you can make a B unit powered! Seriously can’t get over those 4 horns all sounding at once. LOL
Thanks! Haha, right? Originally I was planning to modify an exisiting B unit frame, but had never had one, so quickly realized I had to get creative. Splicing the A frames together was tricky, but I was determined. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Multiple horns sound more realistic too because you have variations in tone
A Lionel “sleeper” powerhouse. Thank you for posting.
Indeed! Thanks.
Awesome, verrrrrrry creative thinking and machinery chops to match !
Thanks! Much obliged!
That’s sick! That has to be a monster puller
Oh it is, I hope to get more cars for it over time. The tractive effort at slow speed is just awesome. It’d be fun to have it on a massive club layout sometime :-)
Thats a great project looks neat.
This is awesome! I have had this idea for several years and never got around to it. Main reason I never did it is because I am too cheap to buy all the parts needed.. But I'm glad to see someone created this lash up and it works! I did not think of adding that many horns but I like the sound. I also like how you made the B unit frame. That was one of the things I was debating the most on how to do. Never know I may actually still do this some day.
Thanks! It ended up being not too bad getting parts from ebay either individually or poached from otherwise junk engines. It was a fun project! If you end up doing something, post a link to share! Thanks for commenting!
Incredible power and impressive horns!
Thank you!
@@tyfude hope you don't mind, but I shared your video on Lionel lines in face book. They were definitely impressed.
@@joeystrains.9316 oh cool! I’ll try to join that group. Thanks.
Every kid’s dream
Right?! I pretty much had to wait til my 40s 😂
I did this same thing to a lionel amtrak ABA set from the mpc Era. I didn't add the horns but I did add a sound board to one of the A-units and for the B unit I used an A unit chassis with the front corners filed down a bit fit pretty good.
Greetings tyfude, I just purchased a 2343 A-B-A. I make repair video's and am doing some research, when I stumbled upon your video here. I love what you have done! Immediately subbed, liked, and am now commenting. These beasts can navigate O-27? I would not have guessed. You do good wiring. Nice and clean!!
Thanks, man. I love working on these trains. I have some other mods going - I like putting air whistles in some tenders, for instance. I like repairs too. I’m at a point where I know I can fix just about any issue on postwar equipment. It is a fabulous hobby. Thanks for the kind words! I’ll sub your channel too :-)
Oh, by the way, not sure what I said but I haven’t had these on anything tighter than 042. They can maybe do 036, but I haven’t tried yet. I think they can go tighter but it looks a bit silly on tight curves IMO. I try to run everything on 072 if I can 😎
@@tyfude I figured they needed big radius. :-)
Interesting build. That thing must pull 12 amps. The four horns sound really nice.
Thank you! Yes it draws a lot in return for for major traction!
However he did say he has them wired in series, so the load to the transformer is likely less then the two original motors, but the speed will be 6 times slower. I don't have a set up like this or a amp meter to prove it but my theory should be correct. Now it might vary as to how he wired in the reverse unit, the best way would be all fields wired in series, and then all armatures wired in series then to the reverse unit, to work as to my theory. I like the horn idea as well, you get a bit of difference with many, to make it sound a bit like a big dual car horn.
Totally awesome job! Absolutely love your quality work! I just wonder how you transport it from your test track to your layout, with no way to unplug each engine. Does it take two people to move the three units as one? I’m a new viewer of your channel. Really enjoy seeing your take on my favorite Lionel train, the Santa Fe War Bonnet F3. I own four of them. Jerry:>)
Great question. I used a long skinny board and shifted the units onto that, then moved it carefully to the track. I actually ended up adding JST connections and have not hade any issues yet with the horns getting a ground. I'm kinda torn because the connectors are bulky, but it does make it easier to move around. It is fun to modify this stuff. Thanks for your comment!
way cool !
Thanks!
Holy cow that's a sound, m8! Now you make me wanna get a B-unit so's I can add more horns! (I already filled my A dummy with something else...)
Haha! Yes! Go for it. Post a link if you make something- I’d love to see it. Cheers!
@@tyfude This is what I gots so far: a bell! th-cam.com/video/Wqc4wbKpwRk/w-d-xo.html
@@StreamlinersCinema1 incredible- finally got to watch. Very, very cool.
Cool 😎
Thanks!
Pretty cool so it has just the one E unit and it was not necessary to slave the E units together like was suggested in the old CTT article?
Good question. I runs off of one e unit - no issues more reliable. Thanks!
@@tyfude yes six motors ,I guess a ZW or a Z4000 would pretty much be needed to feed the beasts!
Impressive. How did you cut and weld [?] or glue [?] that B unit frame??? That would be an awesome video to see how that was done. Short of an actual video, can you give a blow by blow explanation of how to do it?
Oh yeah, for sure. Good question. It’s bolted from underneath with a small piece of flat spring steel crossing each narrow spliced area. I cut the two frames - the front off of one, just in front of the fuel tank. Then the back of another. I cut each a little long and sanded them to butt together evenly at the correct total length.
I made a wooden jig to hold the two pieces tightly together so I could drill and tap bolts in. I used M5 bolts since it’s what I had. There are 4 bolts in a row on each side two on either side of the splice- it came out very strong and secure but with a bit of lateral flex. So from the top side I toe-bolted one m2 bolt diagonally on each side - I sank those bolts and covered it with epoxy sanded and painted silver.
This is very secure now, but it was a bit over complicated perhaps- originally, I wanted to solder the joints, which is what the jig was for. I could not get it hot enough to flow the solder. If I had it to do over I might like to use a wire drive to spot weld it then grind it. I don’t have a welder right now. I might also play around with making the splice somewhere else, for example in the middle of the fuel tank area. It was an experiment, for sure!
A technique like this might work: th-cam.com/video/jwLuV00Psu0/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=muggyweld
This. Is. Incredible. Only thing that worries me is that do the finger boards and drum on the E unit get hot from the current draw from all 6 motors? I’m planning on doing this to some old Lionel ALCOs I got.
Great question! I have not had that problem yet after quite a bit of run time. Things do get warm but no failures yet blasting this thing with my ZW transformer and 9 aluminum cars. Expect scale speeds as speed is traded for tractive effort at this load. I honestly think it could pull me if I could get on it some how, haha! My dual motor Alcos haul pretty fast though, so things vary of course. What's fun is how the parts are interchangeable to a degree, so mods are pretty easy without much hacking. Have fun with your mod and share a link if you have a project to share! Thanks for commenting!
What transformer did you use to power 6 motors and 4 horns? Any idea how much current is being used ?
I love this!
Great question. It’s an 1945 ZW. That transformer has no problem running this set up with 11 aluminum cars and it hauls pretty darn fast full open. It’s top speed is noticeably, but not significantly limited by the draw. 18 volts is the max on those, but runs smoothly at about 8-10 volts. The thing is, with the 6 motors the slow speed is amazing though. It crawls and has major tractive effort. I believe I could double the cars. I’ll slowly add more cars as I can afford them :-) I appreciate your interest.
What a beast ! How many amps does it pull ? What transformer are you using ?
Hi there! I’m using an early ZW transformer- as for the amps, I’ll do a test and get back to you. See my other clip of it hauling 8 aluminum cars on O72 curves. The speed is set at about 14-16 volts in that clip. Due to the draw, I have traded some speed for tractive effort. It still gets going pretty fast, but also great for scale speed. I just haven’t measured the draw. Thanks for commenting!
Six motors pulling through one E-unit? lots of amps for those tiny little fingers
@@herbemont7627 good call, but luckily no issues after long runs. I appreciate your knowledgeable comment! Pretty cool right?!
@@tyfude It's more than cool, I sometimes build some custom locos so I can appreciate the work it took.
can you make a vid on the Eries?
Here ya go! th-cam.com/video/aSznSn5yaBg/w-d-xo.html
How did you attach the two frames together for the b unit?
I chose a spot to splice near one of the trucks, then filed a flat area on the undersides and bridged the two with a small steel plate and 4 bolts that I tapped into the frame material. Added locktite. Very secure. And fairly decrete. I’m certain this could be accomplished others ways ideally welding and grinding perhaps.
Very much appreciate it, I’m going to try and this with JB’s weld for bonding and I’ll see what happens. Thank you so much for the information. Frank😊
@@TwistedMacGyversTrains that would probably work especially with some steel plates crossing the slice and epoxy. I made a simple wooden jig to hold the frame halves straight and at the proper length for gluing/bolting. Goood luck - share results!