general models gear cracked

There is a spring clip on the end away from the universal I think.   You pop the spring clip and slide the upper shaft out.    Getting the gear off the shaft is a lot harder. 

I am not aware of any new source parts for these.    You see a lot of used units and parts at train shows, especially the "March Meet" in chicago.   

All Nation was the name of the last firm that made these products.   All nation parts should work in the unit too.

Yes.  Easier to get a new assembly - hopefully one assembled more than two decades ago.  I have repaired these things, but it is simply not worth the effort.  Better transmissions from P&D?  

P&D sells replacement parts for the drives.   IF you got an early one, it might have been parts from the original Weaver inventory they bought.   They get their parts from Serv-o-link now too.  

You pay a little markup getting it from P&D but you get the right part.   The serv-o-link site has hundreds of sprockets and gears to choose from.    

Shane,

I have the parts for repairing your General Models/All-Nation transmission.

If you send it to me I'll fix it for you.

Jay

Here's what it looks like put together with it's baby.  Whoa shiny!  I hit it with clear flat, but it's still shiny. I took a photo of the coupler on one end of the Cow, I haven't seen one like it before.  Actually attached by little chain to the coupler lever and it works! But it's oversized by quite a bit.  Still need to glaze the windows and fix some handrails, lighting etc.  Are these what people call doorstops?  I saw something about doorstops in another forum but haven't seen an official explanation.  

Shane,

Glad you're happy.

Jay

Hello Jay,

How are things?

John McEnerney

Hey John,

Everything's great on my end.  How about you?

Jay

Now tell us about your Diesels.  Is the calf all metal, and if so, how did the cab end get modified?

Doorstops are so- named because they are generally very heavy and not particularly well detailed or accurate.  If these are General Models, they are only marginally doorstops, because, although fairly heavy, they are also fairly accurate.  The earliest of these were bronze castings, and while almost as good, they lacked the roof radiator, and truly have doorstop status.

Now, doorstop status is being conferred to early, crude rolling stock, whether or not it is heavy enough to hold a door.  That is ok with me - everybody seems to know what is going on.

Opinion.

 Very nice looking cow & calf!  That is a Monarch coupler, I think.

Bob2,

Thank you.  These were adopted for a small fee from ebay.  The calf is all metal and non powered.  It appears to be the same make as the Cow.  I was going to try to describe what was done to create the calf, but I think a picture with the truck removed will do a better job.  Looks like some sort of filler was used to fill in the steps.  I did not create this unit, I purchased it already modified along with the cab unit.  You are correct when you say these are quite heavy, surprising for their size.  

The plan is to fix what is wrong or missing, glaze the windows, touch up paint, add a wagon wheel and a working beacon as seen on the smaller pair in front.  The drive was already redone by Jay, and quite nicely I might add.  To quote one of my favorite movies, "he's very thorough."

Thanks.  That is the way I did mine.  My "cow" is bronze, and the calf is die cast with the cab sawn off and replaced with brass.  Not as nice looking as yours, but still fun.

I recall seeing them and wondering how the calf was made.  Thanks for the information.   Looking good.  Yes, probably a Monarch coupler.  Same coupler in my NW-2.  How are you going to do the glazing?

I am not yet sure how I'm going to proceed with the windows.  It would be easy to just slap some clear whatever on the inside of the cab, but I would like them to be somewhat flush.  I was thinking acetate or lexan.  Lexan can be a pain though.  I poked around a bit on the net and didn't find anything that stood out.   I think I have some 560 canopy glue around here somewhere to stick the windows on when I get the other details in order.  

Anyone have a good instruction for doing this?  I kept finding tutorials for making building windows.  

Thanks.

Bob,

Yes, this is fun.  I'm sure I overpaid for these units.   But when the price point is low, and you want to have fun now, sometimes it's ok to just pull the trigger and let fly a few extra dollars.  This is my opinion of course.

If you are having fun, I tend to profess that they are worth the price to you.

I've taken to selling off or just giving away cars and such after I've scratchbuilt them, or done a restoration/rebuilding exercise on them.  I got my fun and now I'm done.  Somebody else can run them - I have enough....actually, far too much, and more needs to find new homes.

Maybe I'll bring some to Cherry Valley on the 6th........