As part of the project to install a Rail Pro module and sound speakers to a NKP RDS-12, the unit was cleaned an tuned up. This discussion highlights that efforts results.
The clean and tune up activity focused on the four areas. In the past all of these have shown a measurable benefit. The amount of benefit is dependent on the condition improvement. The area that has shown a surprising benefit is the third item on the list. The motor bearings are usually forgotten. These are important at the low speed end of the performance spectrum. These results followed that same trend. This engine appeared to be reasonably clean with a fairly fresh film of light oil in items 1 & 2. The wheels also were also reasonably clean as received.
In most areas in the test spectrum, the after tune up results are nearly identical to the previous results. The area where there were measurable impact is in the starting parameters. The next two charts show these changes.
Theis chart shows the initial sustained velocity. The initial tesult is shown in red, the tuned result is shown in green. These are compared with the maximum, average and minimum results of all Atlas Kato engines in the data base shown in black. All of this is shown with the entire engine data base shown in grey and dark blue. This shows a measurable reduction in initial sustained velocity for the tune up. A lower initial sustained velocity is a desirable result.This chart Shows the impact on the starting voltage level to achieve a sustained velocity. The color code is the same as the previous chart. Here the tuned result I’d distinctly lower than the previous result. This engine is nearly at the lowest level of any of the Atlas Kato engines that have been tested in this data base. A lower voltage to start is a desirable result.
By applying the overall results of the tuned up engine, the performance criteria impact can be defined. This is shown in the following chart.
This chart has the same color code as the earlier charts. This shows the performance to be improved br 33% by the tuning process. This is an excellent result.
This shows that the tuning activity was worth the effort. This will allow the engine to crawl at low speed. It should provide some margin to keep the engine from stalling on frogs and other minor track imperfections.
The next step is to install the nine pin plug and the Rail Pro module. The basic digital functions will be tested and verified before the sound speakers are added.
Questions or comments please contact me at ggnlars@verizon.net.
