I've got my eye on two Farish 61xx Prairie tanks on a local auction site and I'm having a devil of a time trying to work out what type of motor they'll have fitted. They're to early for a 5 pole motor as the style of box and brass gears leads me to think that. That leaves the 3 pole but did the Prairie tank ever have the can motor fitted?
Mark
Sounds like an early Poole era production (pre Bachmann) so most likely 3 pole. they were OK when new but not the best of performers, age will no doubt have taken its toll!
The early can motor (ie ECM1) type motor GF chassis had a lay shaft with gears on the front and rear axles, the centre wheels were not powered and did not have a link to the rods, they just went along for the ride!
The later type with the more common three pole and later 5 pole motors had a worm drive to a gear on the center axle only.
with their larger wheels these are not idea for 009 use. What loco did you have in mind for the chassis??
Brian Meldon
The Roxey Mouldings Cyprus Govt Railway 2-6-0 or 2-6-2 tank as that's the chassis the kits are designed for.
As far as I know, the "can" type chassis was superceded by the one with motor incorporated in the chassis block, before the Prairie was produced (basically the initial chassis was the general purpose 0-6-0, which was then updated with the later chassis). However, as always I may be proved wrong. You can still get a replacement 5-pole armature through BR Lines (brlines.co.uk/). I have replaced several in my time, and it is not beyond the average modeller to do so with care and patience. As far as the brass gears are concerned, I still have at least two locos running since 1980's with these, and have not worn out yet! Equally, if you win one of the locos you are looking at, and it has brass gear on the axle (the motor worm is always brass) BR Lines can provide a replacement centre axle/wheels. I would be more concerned at the possible wear in the axle slots - you would then be into replacement of the chassis block, which is 50% of the whole chassis! :)
BTW, I used the larger wheels for a GEM Bagnall "Dennis" and modified the Prairie chassis for my Sir Haydn.
Quote from: B.Meldon on July 27, 2017, 16:01
with their larger wheels these are not idea for 009 use. What loco did you have in mind for the chassis??
What size are the wheels Brian?
Thanks chaps for the info and advice. I think I might pass on the two locos for now as I consider them overpriced. $125 NZD for the curious. That's a bit on the high side for a secondhand Farish loco. Considering I got a Barchmann produced Farish Prairie tank for $60 :D
Well it's 1:06 am so back to be for me.
Quote from: duttonbay on July 28, 2017, 13:39
Quote from: B.Meldon on July 27, 2017, 16:01
with their larger wheels these are not idea for 009 use. What loco did you have in mind for the chassis??
What size are the wheels Brian?
Margate GF 61xx Prairie:
10.7mm driving wheels. 6.3mm pony wheels. (Not including flanges) 15.2 between driving axles.
I do not have a later one to measure.
The Pannier/ P3 0-6-0 wheels are 9mm.
Brian Meldon