I have an older Kato mike in need of wheelsets (I finally diagnosed a start-stop running problem as being warped wheelsets). Looks like I've got to spend the money for replacements. I was wondering if anyone had tips on removing the siderods from the wheelsets without damaging them?
Sorry Jon, I do not have any kato steam locomotives, so don't know their method of securing siderods. Hopefully someone has the info.
Call Kato on their toll-free number and ask Dee Gilbert, their repair guy. He has disassembled hundreds of them. Charlie
I'll make a s.w.a.g. at it. Perhaps Kato made a headed plastic peg that is pressed into the wheel. It would fit tight enough to stay, and probably works like the peg used as a king pin on some of today's plastic box car trucks. To remove those you carefully and slowly twist the peg's head a little while pulling up a little bit and if it is going to come out without breaking off, it will. If not, it will break off, and there you are. I don't know if you can drill the shank out of the hole and order one new peg or not. If it comes out OK, do be sure to support the rear face of the wheel on something solid when you try to replace the peg, or you could break the wheel.
