I don’t see many of you posting building projects, so here is one of mine. It’s a later model run Athearn Hustler I bashaed into an On30 critter. It has the Ernst gearset so it runs really smoothly. Have a look.
Roughed in body with drive unit.
Wow, I’m also doing a Hustler. There was a thread a few weeks back about these, and I went to my LHS to order the Ernst gearing kit. To my astonishment, he had it in stock so I took it home. I’ve been busy with other projects lately, so I haven’t gotten back to it. (It’s a “workshop project” for those days when I can’t do “layout projects” because the family room is full of teenagers.)
My Hustler is an older model, with pre-flywheel belt drive. The last time it was on tracks was in the mid-1960’s. At one point, I had a decoder in it and it still ran, but very poorly. So, I’m hoping that the gear kit will at least give it a chance. Maybe I can throw in flywheels, too.
Uh oh. The Ernst gearset is for the later model. I’m sure you could make it work, but it was something I didn’t want to try. I got two of the newer versions just so I could use the gearsets.
Oh, goody, that makes it a challenge. [:D] Thanks for the warning.
Yes. It will be a challenge. The older model does not have the provisions for the rubber band “rollers” that were added later on. The newer model uses the roller brackets to attach the gearset. I I can take some close up pics if you like so you can have something to compare to.
To improve the Hustler’s running quality add some Tomar track wipers - they really help the electrical pickup.
Wow, that would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Hi There;
Challenge is the word for it. I also had the older Hustler. I bought a newer one on ebay & put the Ernst gears in it. I used the old one as a dummy with a drawbar in between. This gave me ample room for a decoder. ( someday sound) It also gives you 8 wheel pickup, no stalling on switches. I added handrails,engineers & weathering.
Tom
Your Desk looks like mine!!!
Ok Mr. Beasely, here you go. Sorry about the quality. I gotta cheap camera. I think you can readily see the differences, though. If I were you, I’d look on Ebay and see if I couldn’t find the newer model. It would be so much easier. It can be done with the older one though.
Here’s a photo of the underside showing the Tomar track wipers mounted to the bottom of my Hustler:
click image to enlarge.
sorry, it’s bit grainy
Cool! Thanks. Where do you get those?
I bought 2 of the Ernst gear sets for my pair of Hustlers. I’ve only tried to install them in one unit so far and I’m not impressed. The gears don’t seem to fit well on the various shafts and they bind when run in reverse (manually).
I’m trying to find a pair of Helix Humpers instead of using the Ernst gearing. They aren’t available from Allied any longer so I’m searching hobby shops, etc. I understand they work pretty good.
Roger
Wow. I’ve had nothing but great success with mine. Are you sure you’re doing it right?
Great build. Wish we had more like it here. Fred
Yep! I read the instructions prior to assembling the parts and read it and followed it step by step all through the process. The gears were very hard to slide on the shafts and some don’t seem to want to align or mesh properly.
I also haven’t heard of any problems from Ernst products. I used a set for an Athearn SW several years ago and it went together with no problems and worked fine right from the start. Ran it for many years and it never gave 1 second of problems.
Maybe this kit had some gears or other parts from a different model kit? It was new and sealed but sometimes wrong parts can get in to a different package.
Guess I’ll try the 2nd kit I bought and see if that works!
Roger
Your LHS/Walthers. The company is Tomar Industries. Part No. 805 - Locomotive Pickup Shoes
You’re right flee, but we know where we can find more cool stuff, don’t we? LOL
Thank you very much.
Well, after removing/inspecting/reinstalling the Ernst gear set I never found any cause for the binding so I removed the original set of gearing and installed the second kit I bought. You’re right! It does run great! I don’t know what was wrong with the first set but obviously it has a problem meshing.
I guess I’ll just use the one unit powered and maybe add sound and a decoder to the mating “B” unit.
Roger Huber