Arnold S2

MT 1015s

 

The Walthers Homepage says 53-26796 or 53-26806:

26796 : Arrnold S2 Diesel Geared Wheelsets -- 40"/72 1.0mm Flush Axle Geared Nickel-Silver Wheelset (4)

26806 : Arrnold S2 Diesel Geared Wheelsets -- 40"/64 1.0mm Flush Axle Greared Nickel-Silver Wheelset (4)

But they are all out of stock.

 

Then get them straight from NWSL - that's what I did.

 

I truly loved my S2 when it was released. After the gear problems set in, I bought the replacement wheelsets from NWSL. They looked great, but two sets wobbled so bad, I couldn't run the loco.

I wrote to NWSL and was told to send all four sets back to them. I did and three months went by.

I wrote another e-mail and after three weeks received an E-mail that they had checked them, they were indeed bad and enclosed were a new set of four that had been tested and handpicked. Two weeks later they arrived by mail.

All four sets that were handpicked had a bad wobble.

I've given up and my S2 is on the shelf with the original wheels. I sure would like to run it again.

 

Would there be someone who could just replace the gears of it? I am thinking of a watchmaker or similar, who might have access to the right gears (probably some kind of metric gears, but I don't know much about this :tb-frown: )

 

I don't recommend the NWSL 40/64 wheels for the Arnold S-2 because they are too fine scale with very little flange. The S-2 is a little too light. the 40/72 works a bit better.

However, I have a set of 40/64 wheels, but they are under my Alco T-6 conversion. But the vast extra weight of the pewter conversion shell make tracking not an issue for the finer wheels.

 

They're listed about halfway down on this page: http://www.nwsl.com/wheelsets/nicke...e-kato atlas-intermountain arnold-etc-diesels

#2679-6 ‘N’ 40″/72 1.0mm axle geared wheelsets (4)
#2680–6 ‘N’ 40″/64 1.0mm axle geared wheelsets (4)

Go here to buy them direct: http://shop.osorail.com/
Enter the P/N in the Quick Search function.

 

Hmm...Guess I'm just lucky.I have NWSL wheelsets on all 6 of mine,none wobble.I did have problems with spacing on them,the wheels were too close,maybe when I reset them,I straightened them,too.Christoph,NWSL has just the gears available,but for some reason,they're almost as much as the wheelsets.Perhaps get the wheelsets,and put better wheels on the axles from something else,Atlas VO-1000,Kato NW2,ETC.By the way,when you have it apart,put some well spent time in on making sure the springworms are ABSOLUTELY straight.Makes a HUGE difference in how they run..Actually,really bad worms could be the cause of the wobble.I also put just a speck of white glue on the sides of the motor cases so the motor is firmly seated in the shell if the motor is loose....

 

I've got two that run like real troopers.... never bothered to convert the wheels but will have to as I finish converting to A C 55...

 

Lou, I'll confirm that. The motor ITSELF is a source of noise in this loco. It rattles around in there. I didn't tape mine down like you did, but I wedged a piece of 3x5 card (card stock) to get that thing to quit rattling.

 

Ron,if the motor is loose,and the worms are crooked,they sound and run like a drunk golf ball rattling around in a coffee can,LOL!!!

 

A friend gave me one, didn't ask for a dime, and now I know why. I never owned one as I was never a big fan of diesel switchers, but since it was Arnold's last hurrah, I always wanted to have one, just for the sake of owning one.

I figured out why he was anxious to dump it. I had read all of the N Scale and NSR mags articles on correcting noise, smoothness, friction over wear and power, but still thought it couldn't have been that bad. I ran it around my loop with a caboose in tow, and immediately assigned it to shelf duty. Too noisy, too weak, too wobbly, no parts, and lost the mag articles, so it sits but at least I have it.

If you see one at a swap meet or train show, my personal advice is not to pay more than $5 for it, or even ask the owner $5 to get it off his hands. lol

Kinda ranks down there with the Rivarossi diesels of early years.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

 

I have five bucks right here I'll give you for yours Ken... I like them,other than the gears cracking,I've never really had problems with any of them..

 

I've got a Rio Grande and an undec unit.
Mine actually run pretty good. At least
they did the last time I ran 'em! Can't
find a DC power pack to test them!

Both converted to MT couplers, using the MT 1049.
Need handrails for one though. Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

There is German website selling Arnold spare parts ("Ersatzteile" in German): Home

You might try them, though I don't know whether they speak English.

I bought some replacement trucks on ebay about two years ago, just to have some spare drivers.

 

$5!!!!!!!!

I would buy ANY Arnold S-2 in decent condition externally for $10 if anybody wants to contact me. They sell for 30-65 on ebay.

 

I don't speak German, but I did look over the website.

None of the catalogs list the S-2. Further, you'll notice the product numbers listed are too low for the S-2. Their product numbers run from 0166 to the 4000 series.

The S-2 was in the 5000 series.

Now whether they have gears or other parts-- I don't know. But It's not good that the loco or series is not even listed.