Help choosing a solenoid for an EMD E8 locomotive

Main Train Horns
1

Hello all, I am new to the forum and am in need of help. I am good friends of the owner of an EMD E8 locomotive. This locomotive has 2 horns, one is on a two stage Viloco valve (a AW 206 I believe) mounted on the cab and the other is on a Graham White 812 solenoid mounted in the direct center of the roof. Well it used to have a K3LA on the solenoid and a K5LA was on the roof. The K5 had plenty of air on the manual valve. However, it was decided to move the K5LA to the solenoid and a P3 was mounted on the cab roof. The K5 sounds like it is at half stage all the time, I believe due to a lack of air. It has 5/8 air line from the main air reservoir at 140psi to the solenoid, and the 1/2 from the solenoid to the horn itself. I believe the valve only has 3/8inch piping but I could be wrong considering I have heard these valves are what is used on the new locomotives without issue. If the valve is indeed the problem how would you recommend we fix this problem? Should we add a second valve to the same circuit and have them both run into the same line to the horn for more airflow, or should we find a different valve? If a different valve is the answer, what valve will flow the required air? Can you guys recommend one? Does any one know what valve is used on the new SD70ACe? I know this valve has no trouble getting plenty of air to the horns.

Thank you for all of your help!

2

Sounds like you already know the answer… 3/8 will be too small. A K5 will definitely want 1/2" all the way. Anything less and you’re just adding restrictions. Swap out the valve or add a dual line

3

3/8 “piping”…
Is it sch 40 hard pipe or 3/8" OD tubing?
Hard pipe would be plenty for a K5 as the ID is .493"

4

^^^^^ What he said! (I ain’t got a Scooby Doo what he said, but E2E is never wrong!):smiley:

5

Hey bud, it was 3/8 inch inside diameter tubing, we have changed it to 5/8 inside diameter tubing, which helped slightly, but it is nowhere near where it used to be.