Joes
Fireman
Posts: 84
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Post by Joes on Jul 5, 2012 16:55:11 GMT -5
Just read the article. I am curious as to how long they lasted especially with a coreless motor.
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jul 5, 2012 21:38:59 GMT -5
I just checked: Like the Energizer Bunny - it's STILL going.
I started a few weeks ago.
It DID slow a little in the first week - that's when I realized I was going to need to find a way to clean the track while the loco was still running. Once the dirt was gone, it went right back to target speed.
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Joes
Fireman
Posts: 84
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Post by Joes on Jul 6, 2012 10:01:44 GMT -5
This will be one to follow for sure. Being as all mehcanisms are relatively the same I am curious how long they well go. I like my gp 7, I think it is the best running locomotive I have of any brand. The gp 30 runs well, don't get me wrong, but there is something about the gp7. Off topic perhaps, but is there a difference between the gp 7 mech and the other diesel mechanisms from AZL?
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jul 6, 2012 13:44:07 GMT -5
This will be one to follow for sure. Being as all mehcanisms are relatively the same I am curious how long they well go. I like my gp 7, I think it is the best running locomotive I have of any brand. The gp 30 runs well, don't get me wrong, but there is something about the gp7. Off topic perhaps, but is there a difference between the gp 7 mech and the other diesel mechanisms from AZL? Yes big changes from the GP7 to the GP30. GP7 was our 1st generation split frame design. It used a Faulhaber (Swiss made) motor that is now cost prohibitive. If we used Faulhaber motors, we would have to increase MSRP by about $100. GP30 has a number of improvements. It uses our proprietary 7.5mm coreless motor. The drive train now has a universal joint. Electrical pick ups on the frame were improved (now one piece per side) and the worm gear is now stabilized by bearings. The GP7 had serious manufacturing issues. The precision required was so tight that we had an unacceptable number of units that did not pass our quality standards. The GP7s we shipped were all great runners, but we had far too many we had to ship back to the factory. BTW: The Gp38-2 is still going..... It has completed about 100,000 laps of the test track now.
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Joes
Fireman
Posts: 84
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Post by Joes on Jul 7, 2012 12:46:22 GMT -5
I wondered and thought that there was a small difference. Will you do any lubing or small maintanance of the poor old gp 38 or just run the heck out of him?
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jul 9, 2012 10:32:20 GMT -5
Hi Joe,
No Lube at all.
Honestly, most people over lube their locomotives.
The only time I would apply oil to a loco is after 6-12 months of regular use, or after it has been in storage for 2 years or longer. Once they are in storage, the oil starts to gum up. After 5 years of storage, you really need to disassemble, thoroughly clean all the old oil off all parts (ultrasonic bath is good for that) and then re-assemble and re-lube.
I have been cleaning the tracks every 2 or 3 days. They get dirty with use. Some comes out of the atmosphere - some from the traction tires.
Oh, and it is STILL GOING!!!!
Best, -Rob
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Joes
Fireman
Posts: 84
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Post by Joes on Jul 10, 2012 16:38:05 GMT -5
I agree on people over lubing. Almost every locomotive has different needs and you can't treat them the same. My GP7 I have never lubed. In fact, I have not lubed any of my coreless motor locomotives. The exception is my GP 35 but I have had that since it first came out. My marklin steamers, about once every 2 months after a thourough cleaning. The MT f-7 About once a year.
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Post by ztrack on Jul 10, 2012 21:32:28 GMT -5
Joe, you are right. I rarely oil my coreless motor locos. There does not seem to be a need to. They just keep going. The only time I may oil them is if I hear a bit of gear noise, otherwise I leave them alone.
As for GP38-2 testing... I am running every one on my layout before I ship them to customers. The tradition of AZL locos being tested on European layouts continues!!! A little break in period is a must for the GP38-2s.
Rob
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Joes
Fireman
Posts: 84
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Post by Joes on Jul 21, 2012 19:26:20 GMT -5
Is it still going?
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jul 21, 2012 22:24:57 GMT -5
Yes, yes it is....
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Joes
Fireman
Posts: 84
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Post by Joes on Jul 22, 2012 11:15:28 GMT -5
Crazy, how many days straight has it been now 5 weeks? Amazing.
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Post by markm on Jul 22, 2012 13:57:14 GMT -5
Maybe Rob A. should have a pool for when the unit will fail. I'd be willing to guess at least March 2013 and the failure mode will be a wheel fell off. Mark
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Post by markm on Jul 22, 2012 19:25:58 GMT -5
Rob A., From the blog story and the comments here, you seem rather pleased with what you were able to accomplish with the GP-38. I finished up my characterization of the unit I picked-up at the convention and you should be. Overall the best performing loco I've looked at: lowest power draw at any speed or load, great low speed operation (had it running at 1/2 MPH scale with load for 20 minutes), maintains speed well with increased load. Also, it's the first time I've had a loco that didn't improve with change with break-in. BTW: I still think the LED is too blue. Perhaps that will be fixed in the future DCC unit? But that's a different thread.
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Post by domi on Jul 23, 2012 5:27:38 GMT -5
... The LED is too blue on the GP30 as well. But's it's only to find a drawback on an over all excellent model.
Dom
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Post by markm on Jul 23, 2012 10:01:27 GMT -5
Dom, I guess it's a pat and the back for AZL when the biggest complaint we have is the color of the LED. I agree that the GP30 is too blue also, but you can fix that with the Tamiya clear colors.
Mark
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