Quote from: Kevin Strong on June 30, 2010, 03:02:41 AM
TRR #3, the railroad's venerable Bachmann outside-frame 2-8-0, broke its main gear while pulling a short freight into Shade Gap. EBT #3 was dispatched to pull the train to Blacklog, then pulled #3 to the EBT's Rockhill Furnace shops for repair.

The TRR management considered the options available:
1) Buy the replacement plastic gear from Bachmann ($3 plus shipping)
2) Buy the replacement wheel, axle and gear from Bachmann ($20 plus shipping)
3) Buy a replacement brass gear from NWSL ($12.95 plus shipping)
4) Buy a BBT motor/drive (Price unknown; well worth it, but not in the budget)

The plastic gear was kicked around, as this one lasted 7 years, and one could buy a handful of replacements for the cost of the NWSL gear. The replacement wheel/axle assembly was deemed unnecessary, as switching out a gear is a fairly mundane task for the shop crews. In the end, they opted for the brass gear from NWSL. The plastic replacement gears may last another 7 years, maybe longer, but maybe shorter, too. The brass gear isn't going to break. Due consideration was placed relative to wear and tear on the other gears in the drive, but failures of those gears have thus far proven rare.

NWSL part # 2226-6

Once the TRR receives the replacement, crews will give #3 a proper overhaul, making sure she's good and ready to return to the road in full form.

Later,

K

I just saw this post a couple of days ago. I do have the same problem with a brand new 2-8-0 Consolidation. I want to draw your attention on the following : the first option quoted = Bachmann plastic gears ($ 3.00) is wrong, since the gears they advertised are those inside the gearbox, not the main gear on the axle !
Since mine is new and less than one year old, I will ask for a free replacement !

Bet Regards from hot (well today) Belgium.

Guy Tyteca

Thanks a lot Steve and Mr Bach-man !
I finally found the time to disassemble my 2-8-0 as per these very, very useful hints.
There were no loose motor mounts and all screws were tight.
However, one gear is badly damaged, it is the intermediate one with two gears together. The small gear is nearly smooth ... Now I need a replacement ! How can this be done ??
Please urgently inform about this matter.
Many thanks in advance !

Guy Tyteca

Dear Mr Bach-Man,

Thanks a lot for your very useful informations. I'm now able to arrange this disassembling.
Now, please indicate how I can order the damaged parts on my 2-8-0 ??
As a reminder, they are gearbox gears.
Many thanks in advance.

Guy

Dear Mr Bach-man,

This is about # 81298, Consolidation 2-8-0, outside frame.
For some reasons, the motor is disconnected from the wheel.
Probably something wrong in the "gearbox".
It seems that one gear is loose inside the gearbox.
How can I get the assembly motor/gearbox out of this loco ?
From beneath - through the boiler, from front - or complete disassembly ?

Can you supply these gears ? (ref # OAY01 - OAY02 - OAY03)
Please inform.
Thank you.

Guy Tyteca (Belgium)