J Daddy posted:Actually, I have run the wheels off mine and for some preventative maintenance used some super glue for a quick fix as well.
The issue I had was not the axel slipping in the universal... the weak link of the drive is the U joint yoke. It likes to crack and once it does the engine will run erratically at slow speeds.
There is no replacement for this part, but I was able to use the U joint from the 1999 Allegheny as a fix. Its a tad shorter at the motor end, but I was able to move the motor mount closer and all was good.
This is the issue with the Lionel Niagara U joint. It breaks at the yoke. If someone has one these early EM1s and is willing to measure the U Joint I can see if there is a commercial one available. Otherwise one could be fabricated with standard U joints and some square brass tubing.
Dimensions needed are the shaft diameters and end to end length with the engine on straight track. For length include total length including the piece the section mounted to the worm fits into.
Pete
