Wow, John. What a great description and pictures.
Let me ask this. Over the weekend I was able to adjust things with a flat washer on top and bottom of the worn out rubber bushing on the screw that holds the top part of the gear box to the frame. This corrected the angle of the dog bone connecting the motor to the gear box. So, now, there is almost no noise. Absolutely nothing like the screaming and grinding I started out with. The bearing grease is still coming out of the bearing hole though. You make the comment that without the bearings, the teeth will eventually grind themselves to pieces. If I (again) disassemble the engine and open the gear box and find the bearings are missing, where would I find new bearings ? Also, Trainz responded to my email offering to fix, give a refund, or exchange if I so desired. I really like the engine, but don't want to chance the gears grinding themselves to dust, or going to the trouble of opening everything up and not being able to replace the bearings. I'm contemplating sending the engine back and seeing if they can take it apart and replace the bearings, or just get a refund and look for one that doesn't have this issue.
Scott
