My Dark Diesel Side

[Schraddel]

Next i found by random this RSD-5 in e-bay:


The seller, i presume out of the Märklin corner, did not know exactly was he was offering. "Loco, metal, does not run on Märklin hi-rails". And a wrong box increased the confusion too.
On the photos in the offer the cab was properly fitted for short hood front and the loco looks well detailed. The price was very interesting also, because do not run factor. So why not click on the buy immediately button?
At least i was enjoyable surprised.
















It turned out this loco is an ALCO RSD-5 from Importer ALCO Models manufactured by Samhongsa. Nothing bend or broken, paint and decals were in pristine condition, no chipping was found and the cab windowas were glassed.





My luck it is the 1982 run of this model with all new motor and drive train and improved detailing too. At least the detailing is better than the Atlas RSD-4 in the previously posting, but this bargain was cheaper too.
First test running resulted in a smooth and quiet motion.
But at a second glance the gears were dry and running somewhat stiff.





So the loco an gearboxes were disassembled.






The stiffness was caused by an very tight fit of the bottom plates which resulted in insufficient play of all of the shafts in their bearing seats. To remdy this i filed an little bit material of the bottom plates to easen the bearing seats. The gears are now running freely.
All bearings were greased with new Molykote grease.





Also the worms, wormshafts and worm wheels were dry and were greased.





Motor shaft bearings and worm shaft bearings got each a little drop of oil.





The builder's plate, or better named the importer's plate, a play on words: ALCO from ALCO
Mean while the loco got makeshift installed a decoder to get expieriences with it. One of this was to improve the currrent pick up.
At this time there are no lights. I plan to install lights, sound and some detail improvements like Marker lights and Mu hoses.

cheers Lutz