Welp. My C&O K3 build took a terrible turn today. My 4 legged assistant was on the desk watching me tinker away with the loco, and I lifted her up to put her on the floor, out of the way. She scrambled a bit - why, I don't know, she never does - and kicked the loco off the desk and onto the floor, where the drivetrain flew apart and one wheel is now cocked on its axle. I have no idea if it is even repairable =( Any advice on how I might fix it is very welcome. This is really upsetting. I just made the pilot last night.
I would guess the axle might be bent. Getting it back true and wobble free may not be possible. I'd hope someone has an idea which will work.
I freaked out and posted too quickly, it seems. A bind in one of the side rods was flexing the wheel like that; no bend! I think I can put it back together, I just hope it will run ok again. It ran so nicely!
Whew -- good news then. Per Box's experience, I once dismantled my Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 and have never quite eliminated the slight crabbing/side-to-side hunt when it pulls hard.
Welp its back together, but seems to not run quite so smoothly now. I tested it without any valve gear on and it still did it, seems like it has a slight hesitation at times, but it runs. Sigh. It ran sooo nice =(
If it's possible to take off or even just loosen the motor between the worm and worm gear, you can run the entire drive train with your fingers rolling it down the track and 'feel' for things hanging, binding, or otherwise misbehaving. Some chassis will let you do that.
With your disaster photos it seems you have a Kato USRA with JNR drivers...maybe Kato or MicroAce. Stock units have spoked drivers with the construction varying between original and revised, not Boxpox discs. Charlie Vlk
I noticed the drivers, but why would anyone change them on a USRA mike, I wondered? I wondered if they were just put in by the factory at some point due to a shortage of parts, or mix up? I wonder between the drivers and the fall if i should look for another one.
I can feel your pain I had six cats , down to four now they can be real trouble makers when they want to play with the parts, and what ever. catzilla can be utter hell!!!!
Are bad ow' puddy 'tats 'tausing pwobwems on youw wayout? Call T. Bird Services to-day! Fwee estimates! T. Bird Services-Keeping bad ol' puddy 'tats under contwol since 1942.
A fellow I worked with had a bumper sticker on his pickup that read "Missing Your Cat? Look Under My Tires." Most of the women didn't think it was very funny, but most of the men were amused.
I do adore my cats, and cats in general. I take the bad with the good, along with a bit of cursing and gnashing of teeth.
Some of the impetus behind my desire to work in HO instead of / in addition to N is simply because our tiny cat (The one in my avatar, all 5 pounds of her) seems to leave them alone. She has a special love (hate?) of an Atlas NYC double sheathed boxcar i have. She can pick that car out of 20 and will play with it everytime. Alas, our old fluffmonster, Quibus, went over the rainbow bridge at the beginning of October, so now we have just one. Perhaps I will ban her from the hobby / train room....
Well my felines keep things interesting. I have a whole pride of mini lions. Two of them love to steal things and often has been the time when I had a search on both levels of the home for a missing tool or car and always found undamaged. The rest are fascinated by the mini meeces running around the track and sometimes want to hop up for a closer look. Since the move I haven't had any theft of items but that is because I have a dedicated room now and the door is closed when I am not in it.
I love cats...BBQ'd they taste just like chicken ! ***** Runs away...fast !! ***** <Disclaimer> No cats where harmed in the making of this tongue in cheek post! LOL
I have generally found the company of cats to be preferable to the company of people. And, I don't wish any people to become "under the tire" remains. Just sayin..... I'm still trying to forget mtntrainman's post. I guess some people just have never experienced the company of a great feline.
