2 truck Shay

[mickeykelley]

I recently had my Shay on my desk just looking at something and after I took it back I found a small all bearing sitting on my desk.  I have no idea where it came from and would find it hard to believe it was there before.  It is smaller than a BB and silver.  Has some residual oil/grease as it sticks to my tweezers.  Can anyone tell me if that could have possible come from the Shay and where to look.  Thanks in advance. 

[Jon D. Miller]

Sounds like it's one of the electrical ball bearing pickups that run against the back of the drivers.

There is one of these ball bearing pickups behind each driver.  You will find them illustrated in the documentation that came with the Shay.  For example, with the 36 ton Shay on page 26 of the owner's manual the electrical pickups are illustrated.

Now you have to find out why the ball bearing dropped out.  Possibly the driver is loose.  It could have moved out on the axle and that allowed the ball bearing to drop out.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD