Bachmann Geared Steam Climax

[Schraddel]

Hello, 

now the more easy to handle bevel pinions in the trucks.


A 3 Truck Climax. This was another loco with no cracked spur gear in the center gear box. But all bevel pinions were cracked.


Easy clip the trucks off.


To get acess.
- remove brake beam. They are simply clipped, bend brake shoes to the side. They are very elastic, so no danger of breaking them.
- unscrew the 3 oder 4 tiny crossheads screws
- lift the bottom frame
- lift out the gear shafts


This is the middle truck. The bottom frame is mounted with 4 screws.


Remove the cracked pinions. They came easy right off. When off the shaft, the gaps close and are only visible by the means of a magnifier.
Throw them immediately into the dust bin. So they can't fool you anymore.


Before you mount the new pinions.
The bore in the pinions are too small in diameter. If you press fit them with force right onto the shafts, then there huge internal tensions will be raised. Too much and unnecessary for this little gears. Probably they will crack again in near future.
You see the shaft were the pinions will sit is knurled. Taking a measure with a caliper; it says 1.2mm. Enlarge the too small bore in the pinions with a 1.2mm drill bit. Don't worry, plastic is also elastic. The bore will be 1.2mm when the drill bit is inside. But when you pull it out, the bore is smaller as 1.2mm. The plastic material has relaxed.
But this bore is absolutely adequate for a press fit. And adequate for the forces to transfer. And the mounting is much easier.
And at least it is the trick to give the new pinions a long life.

From time to time Bachmann has this bevel pinions available individual. But no more than 10 pieces per order  
Sometimes you have to buy complete shafts with mounted gears. Depending what is just available.


Lutz