2-6-6-2 Problem, is it common?

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

this has happened 3 times on two of my 2-6-6-2 mallets(the C&O H5 version with long tender) i been fixing it by using a staple but it happened a 3rd time as i said, this time i noticed it while repainting it(i got undec versions to do in B&O, i'm "super detailing" it when it comes to decals by adding the class on the cab as well as more prototypical road numbers etc) I'm not exactly sure what its called but the rod coming out of the top of the cylinder that holds some of the valve gear in place dissapeared. donno if its inside the cylinder or what. is this a common problem? I blew up the exploaded diagrams(my new printer which i love can print on ledger size paper) and the part number for the missing peice appears to be H826X-00W3X2 for the front drivers(and the third time was a first for the front set) and H826X-MTB25X2.

Side note: i added the vandy tenders. these are not the newer runs that come with them.


hard to see in the pic as its from my phone but if you look by the cylinder you can see some rods hanging down.

and as you can see in thsi pic in the red circle is a staple i used to fix the one set of drivers with the same missing part.

[ryeguyisme]

This part is rather delicately affixed on, and falls out of place really easily. If you don't know how to put it back on properly, it can get really frustrating, I had to do it with mine and modded it by gluing the nuisance in place while at the same time not binding the whole chassis. It requires some patience and surgery.

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

I don't even know where the part is, i just happen to notice that it was missing. I'm gonna use a staple to hold it in place again like on the other two.

[utdave]

i have one also    ive got around 15 hrs on it   havent had this trouble  that  i know of yet.   only thing i found with this steam it doesnt pull grades very well with a load    i had to add a powered boxcar to it in order for me to make it more efficient .   Dave