New to Me E-141

[c-series don 8,681]

@SylvanLakeWH AKA” the hub whisperer “ I’ll bet you’re going to be happy with an electric tractor with the price of gas nowadays! 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

18 minutes ago, c-series don said:

@SylvanLakeWH AKA” the hub whisperer “ I’ll bet you’re going to be happy with an electric tractor with the price of gas nowadays! 

Maybe…! manufacturers are very proud of their deep cell battery products…$$$ 

 

But I think you’re right, I am going to love not dealing with gas, oil etc… 

 

It is pretty cool the differences… learning a lot of new twists… 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

Success! 

 

Old axle seal popped right out and new one went right on smooth… so far no leaks… 

 

I did not use the patented @WHX?? /@Achto Wisconsin cheese curd axle seal extraction / insertion technique, so that might be why it went smoothly…?  

 

Thanks @ebinmaine, as usual your advice was spot on… 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,391]

I really can't take credit.  

Just things I've learned (mostly) from this site and others. 

Happy to be able to help...

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

Lots of progress today…

 

Snaked all the wires for the chargers. Zip ties for cords… Things fit pretty good…

 

Painted wheels - Rustoleum Canvas White. Hubs and front caps - Regal Red. Finally found a use for math flash cards… I hate math so painting over the equations was quite therapeutic…

 

Did the full @peter lena and lubed everything with Lucas Red… 

 

Getting there… 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2022 by SylvanLakeWH

[ebinmaine 67,391]

Excellent work Sir 👍

Something nice about fresh wheels.  

 

4 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I hate math so painting over the equations was quite therapeutic

[WHX?? 48,813]

Looks like decent weather there too. Way too cold to paint here. Amazing the things get done with nice weather. 

[peter lena 8,602]

@SylvanLakeWH  glad for you on your progress , been using battery tenders for years , have mine weird in so its an easy plug in. have the wire on my choke cable, so its an easy / quick plug in . glad you are using the lucas red . its good stuff , and stays with the trouble / wear spot. did my wheels years ago using , NAVAJO WHITE . bout time for a fresh coat . thanks for the update , pete   

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

Painted the lower battery tray on the

E-141. Badly pitted from rust / acid. Just laid on the primer and paint to get it sealed. Not going trailer queen - this one’s going to work pulling the SL&WHN train…

 

Since I plan to only run 3 batteries for movement, this battery tray will be available for another use. Thinking tool box, weights and/or one dedicated 12 v battery isolated and used solely for lights, train whistle/horn/bell… not sure yet…
 

 

[Handy Don 12,201]

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

this battery tray will be available for another use

Dilithium crystals for charging the batteries? 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

Got my shift cover from Lowell - wheelhorsepartsandmore - yeah!!! 
Put it on, mounted the fender / seat, and started wearing those nubbies off the new tires!!! 

 

Ran great!!! Lots of little things to tidy up but I am very pleased with how it runs. Very smooth and quiet.

 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

Been toying with solar panel options. Decided to go trickle charge for space reasons… one per battery. Three on fender pan… quick connect to each battery.

 

Picked up at Harbor Freight today.

 

I used these for years on my boat and they do the job as far as trickle chargers go… 

 

Looks like the SL&WHN RR has a new locomotive - The Solar Express… Gotta get with @Vinylguy about some graphics for the side of the Black Hood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by SylvanLakeWH

[ebinmaine 67,391]

4 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I used these for years on my boat and they do the job as far as trickle chargers go… 

Nice. 

We have one for rough camping. 

Works great.  

 

 

[peter lena 8,602]

@ebinmaine   my idea of rough camping , is motel 6 , road runner , pete

[Handy Don 12,201]

20 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Nice. 

We have one for rough camping. 

Works great.  

 

 

Wait, rough includes solar power? 😀👍⛺️

[ebinmaine 67,391]

11 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Wait, rough includes solar power? 😀👍⛺️

"Kinda" rough (?)

 

😂

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

Solar panels mounted, hooked up and tested. One per battery. They work!!!

 

Also put a pin in the hood to hold the hood down. Works perfect.

 

 

[Pullstart 62,829]

How long would it take at 1.5 watts to recover from a train ride around the ‘hood with your family loaded up?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

6 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

How long would it take at 1.5 watts to recover from a train ride around the ‘hood with your family loaded up?

A long time… 

 

1.5 watts = .125 amp chargers…

 

These are what I keep it hooked up to in the garage.

They take a couple hours to charge back up after I’ve cruised around…

 

I put the small solars on primarily to educate the kids who ride the train and to learn for myself. Show them how batteries are charged, wired, pros / cons of gas vs batteries…
 

I’m looking at larger panels (100+ watt) that would actually produce about twice the amps as my 120 v tenders do now… thinking solar canopy over the tractor and main passenger car… we’ll see… 

 

 

 

 

[Pullstart 62,829]

19 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

solar canopy

It’s been done…they cruise the big show quite a bit with it!

 

19 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

and main passenger car

Sylvia’s Wild Wild East train is getting fancy!

[ebinmaine 67,391]

3 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

solar canopy

Interesting idea 💡 🌞

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

Interesting idea 💡 🌞

 

Thanks but not original. As @Pullstart notes, there are pics on here of one with a solar canopy… my thinking is to extend to include trailer(s)… we’ll see. Wiring etc becomes interesting…

[Handy Don 12,201]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

It’s been done…they cruise the big show quite a bit with it!

I spoke to the owner of that "surrey with the panel on top" about range. It is very cool (and also modded into a two-seater like @Achto's newest acquisition).

He said the panels give him maybe 15 minutes of low-load driving after four hours of sun. He was seen last year with his buggy plugged in whenever it wasn't in use!

Likely newer, more efficient panels would make a difference.

[ebinmaine 67,391]

8 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Likely newer, more efficient panels would make a difference.

I read a very quick article a few days ago about some sort of newly designed panel that has microscopic hexagons that are not flush to each other at the top face.

Because some of them stick up higher or lower than others the upper face can actually reflect on to the sides of the hexagons and vice versa.

The efficiency level was stated to be quite High because of the extra reflections.

It's not likely this type of technology would be in the hands of general consumers right away because of extreme cost but it shows what things can be done...

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

49 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I spoke to the owner of that "surrey with the panel on top" about range. It is very cool (and also modded into a two-seater like @Achto's newest acquisition).

He said the panels give him maybe 15 minutes of low-load driving after four hours of sun. He was seen last year with his buggy plugged in whenever it wasn't in use!

Likely newer, more efficient panels would make a difference.

 

And just FYI - I think he has the full load of six 12 v batteries, if I remember the picture correctly. I only run 3 at the moment...