11-22-2010, 07:54 AM
I did get an unused A-line motor with flywheels from my CF-7 repowering session. The P1K/Walthers GP15-1 are relative new and entry price engines with "average" running and noise performance. I thought to give it a try how a Mashima (A-line) motor would do.
The installation was very easy because both motors have the exact same dimensions. The flywheels have been removed from the A.line motor prior installation not to put the unbalance problem into this unit.
The result is a wash. There is no difference worth to mention. Looks like Walthers toke the money and bought motors of equal quality as original Mashima motors are.
Summry: No reason to tinker with the GP15-1 motor if you want to improve the run or noise.
Remark 1: I did read long discussions about pro and contra of flywheels. This was the first time I did omit the flywheel intentionally. There is no noticeable difference. The two truck have reliable current pickup and the speed variation is controlled by CV3 and CV4. Without the decoder the engine lost a free run of 1/2".
Remark 2: The noise of the GP15-1 comes from the trucks (like the CF-7). I will have to dig deeper into the quality differences of trucks that look very similar but do perform from point of view of noise very different. Atlas and Athearn Genesis trucks are very smooth while Athearn RTR and this Walthers GP15-1 truck are noisy. The old P1K trucks in RS2 have been very smooth too. While the basics of operation are the same it looks like it is question of quality management to stay within close tolerances during manufacturing of the plastic parts.
The installation was very easy because both motors have the exact same dimensions. The flywheels have been removed from the A.line motor prior installation not to put the unbalance problem into this unit.
The result is a wash. There is no difference worth to mention. Looks like Walthers toke the money and bought motors of equal quality as original Mashima motors are.
Summry: No reason to tinker with the GP15-1 motor if you want to improve the run or noise.
Remark 1: I did read long discussions about pro and contra of flywheels. This was the first time I did omit the flywheel intentionally. There is no noticeable difference. The two truck have reliable current pickup and the speed variation is controlled by CV3 and CV4. Without the decoder the engine lost a free run of 1/2".
Remark 2: The noise of the GP15-1 comes from the trucks (like the CF-7). I will have to dig deeper into the quality differences of trucks that look very similar but do perform from point of view of noise very different. Atlas and Athearn Genesis trucks are very smooth while Athearn RTR and this Walthers GP15-1 truck are noisy. The old P1K trucks in RS2 have been very smooth too. While the basics of operation are the same it looks like it is question of quality management to stay within close tolerances during manufacturing of the plastic parts.
Reinhard