Nice to rewatch this one. I've just bought an N2 but from the Mainline era. Reading online it was an Airfix model but tooling was taken over by Mainline and then subsequently Dapol.
Such a nicely detailed loco with a potentially good 5 pole motor spoiled by that gearing mechanism and what looked like no proper wheel bearings. Your intricate work made a big difference. Always educational to watch your videos. 😊👍
Thanks for all your videos. I enjoy all of them . I do run Dapol I have never had problems with any of them. They have a 2 year guarantee with them . So thanks Bryan
Ah, my Dapol N2 is a noisy beast too. Still, it's a stunning loco, and I adore mine. It makes me want to give the layout I am planning, a Widened Lines theme.
Well done Bill - I recently purchased a Dapol County class loco of around the same vintage as the N2 - I was very impressed with overall quality of the model. The only reason I purchased it was to get the armature to use in one of my poorly Hornby Castle Class locos - the armatures for their ringfield motors are currently unavailable - aargh!! However, I liked the build quality of the County so much that I determined to fit a CD type can motor into it but that was not easy - I had to machine a completely new engine mounting block to enable the loco to work. It's now got a DCC decoder and is just a lovely loco; runs very well and is quite powerful. Am enjoying your videos - thank you,
Hi Bill, Just watched this video as I am now the proud owner of 3 of this model N2's.2 Mainline and 1 original Airfix.( I have several more Hornby Dublo N2's). They all sound the same. Very noisy. I am not sure if this was problem with all Airfix steam engines with body mounted motors. As the large Airfix prairie is just as loud if not louder. But like the tender drive Airfix Royal Scot with a ringfield motor I have and the one you worked on are nice and quiet. The Airfix N2 which arrived today had what looked like a strip of rubber like material covering the engine and weight. Only problem with it is that it is white and stood out lie a sore thumb. I think to quieten it down a bit. Does not work very well and I have removed it. As has been mentioned by others here the Dapol has not changed in design at all from the original Airfix one. So this video is a good service guide for all 3. I cannot speak for the newer Hornby one based on this engine as I have not seen one. Would be interesting to know if they newer Hornby motor fits in this engine and if it is quieter.
That was interesting Bill as I have one of those and it was running sweet until one day it stuttered and stopped. When I picked it up I found one wheel from the far side had come off and tge rods were bent. Thought it was done but now I can at least look at it and maybe find the problem.👍
Yup. That's what'll happen. Axles fail and rods get bent. All split chassis things are ticking time bombs. Super glue is your friend but replacement axles even more so. But even that just resets the timer of the bomb....
Bill I had one of these and the casing amplifies the internal grumbles. Nothing you can do apart from line the casing with insulation. But not much room inside. Good job as always.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Line the body casing with some sort of closed cell foam insulation. Perhaps the type used for window and door edges.👍👍
The N2 was originally a Mainline Locomotive, these then went to Dapol, and then Hornby, so they have done the rounds. I have a mainline version which I’ve converted ( very easily) to DCC.
hi there, great video as usual, some of my Triang locos are as noisy but thats the way it was in the 60s, the wheels on the power bogies had grips. i run a Wrenn N2 which is great. a no thrills loco.
It occurs to me that a lot of motor noise is amplified by the loco body acting like a sound box...Are there ways of damping the sound down by using foam material to pack any open spaces with in.
great vidio again well done. I need your advice, rebuilding an old hornby hymak do i need to replace the traction magnets , bought off ebay as a non runner good clean, resolder one wire and off she went but came with only one traction magnet regards sam woodward
Not unless you are running on steel track so they do what they are meant to and provide "magnahesion". On nickel track they do nothing and can safely be removed from the 35. On the 37 they act as place holder for the bearings.
@@oobill thanks bill that was what i was thinking . running hymak on test track now runs fine without magnets. keep up the good work as it helps alot with the older locos i have when opening up old locos never sure whats inside your vidio help by giving insight to what we might find regards sam woodward big thumbs up for your channel
They are not called coffee grinders for nothing, you did calm it down quite a bit though, perhaps some sound proofing foam in the body would take it further.
@@oobill - Often thought the body acts as a sound box. Would like to see you experiment muffling a loco using something suitable, although I don't know what (needs to be something that doesn't absorb oil!). A Tri-ang/Hornby Jinty or Pannier tank (using the venerable X04 motor) would be a good candidate.
Hi Bill I have one of those re-magnetisers but I don’t understand how to check the polarity of the magnet and ensure that it doesn’t change when I remagnetize. Could you provide a brief explanation please (or shoot a video) Thanks Ray
@@oobill ah! bit like X03s can, would it be worth securing the backplate at its lugs with a tiny spot of super glue on each? This worked for me some years back. Good luck
@@oobill The same body and running gear for Airfix and Dapol and Mainline and the older Hornsby N2 used the same body but Hornby Altered the chassis and put a different motor in but the actual body was the same
@@oobill Actually if you come across an old air fix 6100 class that also is the same dapol and mainline use the same chassis and gearbox and running gear
So have many , many other people! I think I have you on my spreadsheet (yes there are that many) but I can't answer everyone or take on everything all at once. ;)
Nice to rewatch this one. I've just bought an N2 but from the Mainline era. Reading online it was an Airfix model but tooling was taken over by Mainline and then subsequently Dapol.
Such a nicely detailed loco with a potentially good 5 pole motor spoiled by that gearing mechanism and what looked like no proper wheel bearings. Your intricate work made a big difference. Always educational to watch your videos. 😊👍
Thanks for all your videos. I enjoy all of them . I do run Dapol I have never had problems with any of them. They have a 2 year guarantee with them . So thanks Bryan
Your fast becoming the go to guy for hints and tips on repairs
Ah, my Dapol N2 is a noisy beast too. Still, it's a stunning loco, and I adore mine. It makes me want to give the layout I am planning, a Widened Lines theme.
Well done Bill - I recently purchased a Dapol County class loco of around the same vintage as the N2 - I was very impressed with overall quality of the model. The only reason I purchased it was to get the armature to use in one of my poorly Hornby Castle Class locos - the armatures for their ringfield motors are currently unavailable - aargh!! However, I liked the build quality of the County so much that I determined to fit a CD type can motor into it but that was not easy - I had to machine a completely new engine mounting block to enable the loco to work. It's now got a DCC decoder and is just a lovely loco; runs very well and is quite powerful. Am enjoying your videos - thank you,
Brill - I have an old Prairie that’s Screeches like that so hopefully that has shown me the way. Great Job again 👍🏻
Hi Bill, Just watched this video as I am now the proud owner of 3 of this model N2's.2 Mainline and 1 original Airfix.( I have several more Hornby Dublo N2's). They all sound the same. Very noisy. I am not sure if this was problem with all Airfix steam engines with body mounted motors. As the large Airfix prairie is just as loud if not louder. But like the tender drive Airfix Royal Scot with a ringfield motor I have and the one you worked on are nice and quiet. The Airfix N2 which arrived today had what looked like a strip of rubber like material covering the engine and weight. Only problem with it is that it is white and stood out lie a sore thumb. I think to quieten it down a bit. Does not work very well and I have removed it. As has been mentioned by others here the Dapol has not changed in design at all from the original Airfix one. So this video is a good service guide for all 3. I cannot speak for the newer Hornby one based on this engine as I have not seen one. Would be interesting to know if they newer Hornby motor fits in this engine and if it is quieter.
Definite improvement on how it was. I'd call that a another success 🥳
That was interesting Bill as I have one of those and it was running sweet until one day it stuttered and stopped. When I picked it up I found one wheel from the far side had come off and tge rods were bent.
Thought it was done but now I can at least look at it and maybe find the problem.👍
Yup. That's what'll happen. Axles fail and rods get bent. All split chassis things are ticking time bombs. Super glue is your friend but replacement axles even more so. But even that just resets the timer of the bomb....
@@oobill thanks Bill, really appreciate your help
Great video Bill, love watching your repairs videos
Bill I had one of these and the casing amplifies the internal grumbles. Nothing you can do apart from line the casing with insulation. But not much room inside. Good job as always.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Line the body casing with some sort of closed cell foam insulation. Perhaps the type used for window and door edges.👍👍
There’s only so much you can do I think , and that’s probably as good as it gets . Good one . Our intrepid repairer . Nothing scares him !
I think you have made it miles better well done Bill.
I think the noise reduction was fairly moderate but she did sound noticably healthier after a service. Really well done.
Great repair Bill, well as much as you could do.Good job !
The N2 was originally a Mainline Locomotive, these then went to Dapol, and then Hornby, so they have done the rounds. I have a mainline version which I’ve converted ( very easily) to DCC.
Thats interesting Bill ... I just checked the one I got off ebay a couple of months ago and same number "69532" and it seems to run okay ...
Hi Bill I have the mainline version of this locomotive and it is noisy as well it always has been the screaming is usually been motor bearings
Great to see you widening your range to different engines and using your experience to solve new problems. How about a continental loco sometime?
It's a possibility.
hi there, great video as usual, some of my Triang locos are as noisy but thats the way it was in the 60s, the wheels on the power bogies had grips. i run a Wrenn N2 which is great. a no thrills loco.
I'd like to get my hands on a Wrenn N2
Personally, I wash oily parts in Dawn. I use distilled water since my tap water is very hard.
I had a Mainline N2 back in the 80/90s and even their poor mechanism ran a lot quieter !
It occurs to me that a lot of motor noise is amplified by the loco body acting like a sound box...Are there ways of damping the sound down by using foam material to pack any open spaces with in.
Hi Bill, Silk purse from a sows ear , excuse the expression, Nice Job, All the Best Brian
Great video as always Bill 👍🏻
great vidio again well done. I need your advice, rebuilding an old hornby hymak do i need to replace the traction magnets , bought off ebay as a non runner good clean, resolder one wire and off she went but came with only one traction magnet regards sam woodward
Not unless you are running on steel track so they do what they are meant to and provide "magnahesion". On nickel track they do nothing and can safely be removed from the 35. On the 37 they act as place holder for the bearings.
@@oobill thanks bill that was what i was thinking . running hymak on test track now runs fine without magnets. keep up the good work as it helps alot with the older locos i have when opening up old locos never sure whats inside your vidio help by giving insight to what we might find regards sam woodward big thumbs up for your channel
I wonder if stuffing the body with cotton wool would help deaden the sound.
They are not called coffee grinders for nothing, you did calm it down quite a bit though, perhaps some sound proofing foam in the body would take it further.
Hi Bill I have one of these not very quite either but not so bad as this one
Just a comment, is the body shell amplifying the noise, could you damp/isolate the body, just a thought, great stuff though.
I think it is yes but there isn't much room for any foam with that big weight. And to be honest I think it's beyond that!
@@oobill - Often thought the body acts as a sound box. Would like to see you experiment muffling a loco using something suitable, although I don't know what (needs to be something that doesn't absorb oil!). A Tri-ang/Hornby Jinty or Pannier tank (using the venerable X04 motor) would be a good candidate.
@@oobill Yes I get your point, if the gears did not growl the body could not amplify it, but another avenue to follow one day, thanks, Peter.
Is this the same model as the Mainline/Airfix one? I recently picked one up at a Bristol show but it makes no noise.
Hi Bill
I have one of those re-magnetisers but I don’t understand how to check the polarity of the magnet and ensure that it doesn’t change when I remagnetize. Could you provide a brief explanation please (or shoot a video)
Thanks
Ray
Ronald Dodd has tutorial vids on his channel.
Perhaps you could put some sound damping rubber or silicone in some places in the chasis and motor mounts?
Bill,
Those tweezers!. What make are they,as they look so good to work with?
Regards
Nige
Look up ESD-15 tweezers
Thanks Bill!!
How much quieter is it without the body, I have several that are similar body seems to amplify the noise.
Not much!
I noticed the old capacitor on the towel at the end. Did you remember to put a new one in?
Dapol brought the tooling from Mainline for the Class N2
Did you try running the motor on its own?
Yes. The motor vibrates so is clearly not well balanced. That vibration will cause the noise in the bearings and gears.
@@oobill ah! bit like X03s can, would it be worth securing the backplate at its lugs with a tiny spot of super glue on each? This worked for me some years back. Good luck
I've had a Dapol N2 from new and it always sounded like a lawn mower. The Hornby one dosnt seem as bad
The Hornby version is quieter.
What do your repairs entail? Cost etc
AWESOME work :) Well done :)
Sorry my friend but did you get my email?...i dont know how to otherwise get in touch with you.
They are the same as the AirFix same body and running gear
Seemed like a sort of Airfix/Lima hybrid to me. Not good really....
@@oobill The same body and running gear for Airfix and Dapol and Mainline and the older Hornsby N2 used the same body but Hornby Altered the chassis and put a different motor in but the actual body was the same
@@oobill Actually if you come across an old air fix 6100 class that also is the same dapol and mainline use the same chassis and gearbox and running gear
Time to detonate that one....
That’s worse since you moved the pinion
Nice video bill I sent you a email could you give me a answer on that please sorry if you have been busy
I have replied but emails bounced saying your mailbox full.
O I don’t know why ?
My one is empty
nice video bill but you just cant fix dapol junk i now just steer clear
Probably good advice. In fact no..wait. It IS good advice. Stay clear of Dapol, Mainline and Replica.. :)
I have also sent you an email
So have many , many other people! I think I have you on my spreadsheet (yes there are that many) but I can't answer everyone or take on everything all at once. ;)