What is a good donor loco for a proto GP7?

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M

Mattchu60

Member
I have a set of 2 Proto GP7's. I have already replaced the wheelsets due to the bad axles. I am going to be adding sound to one of them and MU together, so I want them to both run really smooth and quiet. I know many people have used parts from the stewart F's to rebuild these.

My question is, what parts would a person need to get the job done? I believe at a minimum I need the kato motor from the stewart F, but I can also use the trucks if I would want.

My questions are these:
- are there other engines I could use as a donor? I think the early atlas engines have kato motors.
-What about the new walthers GP15 chassis? They seem to be trying to get rid of these everywhere for cheap. I cannot find a diagram of these anywhere on the net, so I do not know if they have can motors or not.
- What about the driveshaft - what do I need to get to make sure that I can connect the trucks with the motor and that is the right length?

Thanks for any input, I am looking for something I can bolt on, as I prefer not to have to glue the motor into place.

Thanks!
 
I have a large fleet of Proto GP7's GP9's and GP20's and they ran like an Athearn (stands to reason as the motor is just a glorified Athearn motor with PC board). I took the motors out and tuned them up and re-installed them and they now run smooth as silk. No need for re-motoring if you spend some time tuning them in my opinion.
 


I did try sanding the small black/gray cylinders (cannot remember their name) that ride on the springs in the motor. It did not seem to help. I also put a drop of oil on the bearings. Still loud. What else can I do to tune up the motor?
 
Check all truck and tower gearing under a magnifier. File any flash or burrs. That is your biggest culprit right there. Also clean the armature where the brushes make contact with alcohol on a Q-tip. Use light grease (not oil) on the gears and a light oil (I like Tr-flow teflon oil) on the motor shafts.
 
with my life like GP9 I took a q tip and dipped it in Isopropyl alcohol and cleaned the little armature where the brushes rub, that helped alot, also athearn axles can also be used to replace the old life like ones,
 
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