Athearn F7 truck ID?

JNXT 7707 Sep 8, 2013

  1. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Looking at this picture on an auction listing for an "older Athearn F7". Is this a rubber band drive or geared? I always assumed the bands were visible from below.

    Thanks for any help

    F7truck.jpg
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Dredging from very old memories, I remember the bands as being visible.
     
  3. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    I know they were visible on the old RDC's and the little 4 wheel loco they once did.

    Sent from my Xperia Z using Tapatalk 2
     
  4. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Yes I always thought they were visible, on those big axle shafts. I never had one but have seen a bunch at train shows. I've never seen an Athearn truck cover of this type, but then again I've never seen any of the older geared ones either.
     
  5. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like an old gear drive truck to me.
     
  6. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, gear drive. All the HiF units had visible bands on LARGE axles, Hustler, F units, Geeps, RDC's.

    There are variations internally on early gear boxes. Some had one angle of gear, some had "chevron" gears, one side angled one way, the other opposite...eliminated the forces that shoved the gears one way or another. Some had bronze bushings ion the worm shaft, some did not.

    The little "U" clip that snapped in to hold the truck in place...break...and made of unobtainium...but I developed a fix several years ago that works...did all of ours. I think out of 6 or 8 trucks, one "U" clip was there, so I just did them all. I think I still have the photos...plus, wire around the truck to frame contact, and the stutter and blinking headlight syndrome go away.
    Dave
     
  7. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Well I'm about to find out exactly what type of gear, because I won the auction for it. I'm anxious to take a look at it, I may get it by Friday. If you can scrounge those photos up I wouldn't mind taking a look. So...you add an additional wire to connect the truck to the frame?
     
  8. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot TrainBoard Member

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    It is Athearn.
    It is a gear drive .. Horizontal motor with U joints connecting the trucks.

    I an looking at one from the 60's.
     
  9. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    Wait until you have a bad truck, think you're going to use bits from your parts box...and find one is single cut gears, one is double cut!
     
  10. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Well it came today and dang this thing is built like a Russian tank. The only downside with it is that a couple of the axle gears are cracked - not on the gear part itself, but near the ends where the metal wheels axles fit in. It takes a lot of juice to get it to run too, and it tends to run hot.
    Was going to put an extra newer Athearn motor in it just to see how it does, but I'm conked out for tonight and need to start that project fresh.
     
  11. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    The gears in the trucks have a herringbone pattern. They're in great shape, although the lube had long ago dried out.
     
  12. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    Those are the good ones. Quieter. Less "lash". You do remember "Ipana" toothpaste, right?
     

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