I have a little problem with a Weaver drive gear, and I'm hoping there is a possible solution. Turns out the drive gear appears stripped, and I have no idea if or where I can get a suitable gear to replace it. After doing all the upgrades to give this nice locomotive fan driven smoke and cruise, I'd like to get it back on the rails.
Any ideas on a replacement?
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@gunrunnerjohn posted:I have a little problem with a Weaver drive gear, and I'm hoping there is a possible solution. Turns out the drive gear appears stripped, and I have no idea if or where I can get a suitable gear to replace it. After doing all the upgrades to give this nice locomotive fan driven smoke and cruise, I'd like to get it back on the rails.
Any ideas on a replacement?
My first idea is finding another gear box from Weaver to steal the gear from. Another idea would be to contact Royz trains as he is a big brass guy. I have bought a lot of brass locomotive parts from him before. You never know what he could have. It's worth a shot. That's all I can think of. Hope you can find something that works John.
Another gearbox would be a find, but that's probably not that likely. I'll give Royz a try, can't hurt.
Bob Lavezzi bought the Weaver parts inventory when they closed. He might have what you're looking for. Contact info is in the link below.
Grj. Any possibility of removing a gear and possibly motor from a postwar or similar drive system and modifying it to fit? That kind of looks like a f3 mechanism. Just a thought.
@Bob posted:Bob Lavezzi bought the Weaver parts inventory when they closed. He might have what you're looking for. Contact info is in the link below.
I'll give him a try, thanks. 
@E-UNIT-79 posted:Grj. Any possibility of removing a gear and possibly motor from a postwar or similar drive system and modifying it to fit? That kind of looks like a f3 mechanism. Just a thought.
Well, I guess anything's possible, but the chances of a PW gear fitting on the axle and mating with the worm on the driveshaft seems like a long shot to me.
If all else fails, try Boston Gear - they may have a suitable replacement size gear in stock or be able to manufacture one.
I’ve got some gear boxes, doubt I have a direct fit Weaver, but I have some complete Samhongsa stuff, with worm wheel, we’d just need to verify gear ratio, axle OD, and LXW measurements to see if they’d fit,...when you pull it apart, we can compare notes,...clearly it’s coming apart whether you like it or not,...😉
Pat
Have you looked at replacement gears/gearbox at Northwest Short Lines (nwsl.com)? I suggest reviewing the following old catalog pages (https://cdn.shopify.com/s/file...es/Gears_1_2.pdf?263) since their newer pages are very incomplete. NWSL often has drivetrain components no one else on the planet offers.
@Richie C. posted:If all else fails, try Boston Gear - they may have a suitable replacement size gear in stock or be able to manufacture one.
Manufacturing one is likely to be the solution I suspect. Looking at the Boston Gear Website, I suspect they'd have to have exact specifications to make it happen.
@harmonyards posted:I’ve got some gear boxes, doubt I have a direct fit Weaver, but I have some complete Samhongsa stuff, with worm wheel, we’d just need to verify gear ratio, axle OD, and LXW measurements to see if they’d fit,...when you pull it apart, we can compare notes,...clearly it’s coming apart whether you like it or not,...😉
Yep, I suspect the gearbox is coming out. The gear ratio isn't critical, as long as the wheels go 'round I'll be happy. 
OK, what the LXW measurements?
@DarrellR posted:Have you looked at replacement gears/gearbox at Northwest Short Lines (nwsl.com)? I suggest reviewing the following old catalog pages (https://cdn.shopify.com/s/file...es/Gears_1_2.pdf?263) since their newer pages are very incomplete. NWSL often has drivetrain components no one else on the planet offers.
That link is bad, this is all I get.
LXW = Length and Width measurements?
John, here is a good link for NWSL.
They are under new managment and just getting back up to speed. I would suggest first emailing them and ask if they know what the correct gears are for your engine before trying to pick them out yourself.
Pete
No problem Pete, I didn't find anything searching their site that looked familiar, so I'll have to ask them!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Manufacturing one is likely to be the solution I suspect. Looking at the Boston Gear Website, I suspect they'd have to have exact specifications to make it happen.
Yep, I suspect the gearbox is coming out. The gear ratio isn't critical, as long as the wheels go 'round I'll be happy.
That link is bad, this is all I get.
Length and width, ...this way we can see what can fit in your hole,..that and measure your axle, should be the same, but one never knows till the caliper says so,...😉....if you don’t have any luck with the other’s recommendations, let me know and we’ll figure out something,....
Pat
I may have a line on a solution, we'll see. I talked to Bob at All About Trains and he may have the wheelset with the gear, that would be a simple bolt-on solution, and put a big smile on my face. Of course, he might not, I'm going to send the wheelset down to him to see if he can match it.
I can understand your being excited if they DO have an exact match, but for the long term I'd be concerned that I would be looking at the same problem again at some point in the not-distant-enough future. Can anything be done to prevent the gear from wearing so badly?
Dale
Nothing that I know of short of making sure it's well lubed and not putting too much of a load on it. Part of the problem was a rod was apparently hitting one of the rod bolts and I guess that big 'ol Pittman just wanted to go.
We'll see if I can even get a match.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Nothing that I know of short of making sure it's well lubed and not putting too much of a load on it. Part of the problem was a rod was apparently hitting one of the rod bolts and I guess that big 'ol Pittman just wanted to go.
We'll see if I can even get a match.
About the only thing you can do is double check the back lash if you get lucky and get a direct replacement part......if the back lash is a little sloppy, ie; a lot of lost motion before engaging, you can use a jewelers file to sneak up on bringing the gearbox closer to the worm wheel, only downside to that, you have to make trapping shims to put on the base pan to tighten up the now bigger gap,....kinda sucks, but doable,...
Pat
Sounds like it might be over my pay grade. 
Well, the news got a little worse. Once I got the gearbox out and could see the worm itself, it's all chewed up as well. So, not only do I need the wheelset with the gear, I need the worm as well. The whole gearbox is trashed. So now I'm looking for two pieces...
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