I experienced the disappearing part phenomenon the other night. While removing a power truck from an old Athearn Blue Box Baldwin S-12, I somehow managed to catch part of the worm gear cover clip on the inside edge of the chassis. I heard a “pop,” then absolutely nothing. As I was working in a rather spartanly furnished dining room with sheet vinyl flooring, I would have expected to hear the stupid thing hit the ceiling, the walls, and eventually the floor. However, not a sound! I spent an hour crawling around the room looking for the worm cover but could not find it. I even looked on top of the china cabinet and in the tops of the window blind frames - still nothing. Looking on the Athearn website, I do not see anything specifically listed as a worm gear cover clip (though they do specifically list the other two cover clips for power trucks). Does anyone know exactly what Athearn calls this part so I can order it from them? I sent an e-mail to Athearn with this inquiry last week but have not received any response. Does anyone have a broken Blue Box four axle loco I could salvage this part from?
I have had to get parts twice from Athearn. I sent an e mail and about a week later I got a response with the part # I was looking for and the cost. I ordered on line and had a fast ship. Hope this helps
ratled
I have an exploded parts diagram of a ready to roll engine. The part is curved on the top. It is called a worm housing. The part number is 40053. Good luck.
How old is “old”? If what you have looks like this, http://www.hoseeker.org/assemblyexplosionAthearn/Assembly%20Explosion%20Athearn%20S12.jpg, you should be able to identify what you need.
Ahh yes into the great void never to be seen again-well at least not until you pay a replacement part.[(-D]
Heres what you need to order…
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH40053
And yes one size fits all.
Now,here is a suggestion…To help cover shipping I would order other common parts for emergencies.
Thanks guys for the quick response! Maxman nailed it with his exploded diagram of exactly the model I’ve been working with. Since I live fairly close to Carson, I guess the next question would be whether I could pick the #41031 Worm Housing up at will call? Thanks again guys!
If you have any trouble getting the clip, PM me, I have plenty of spares. All the Athearn BB clips are the same.
How far away did you look? I have found those small parts can travel an amazingly long distance.
I think there is an entire roster of parts under my workbench, especially Kadee coupler springs.
The old trick, getting harder as my knees approach their sixth decade, is to turn off all the room lights and get down on the floor with one single strong light source that you can move around. It is suprising how plainly things pop out at you when you do that.
Dave Nelson
Hornblower if you do this hobby long enough you will lose some parts. Did you check your clothes? I’ve quit working black plastic to black plastic parts because I can’t see them as good as I used too and that is with using a white plastic cuttin board and good light. You can lose stuff that way too, by not seeing them!
Kadee coupler springs! That’s a good one, always keeps extras on hand for when the little things grow wings and fly. Never do any modelling over deep shag carpet! That’s a modeler’s rule, isn’t it?
Ed
Actually I do. There is a standing agreement in my house between the wife and I. I do two things. Vacuume the basement carpet (where I do my modeling) and clean out the vacuume canister. I do that twice. Once before I suck up all the little parts I drop and right after to retrieve all the little parts I suck up. 99.9% of the time it works great. Only once did I not find a missing part. It did finally show up after the new one I ordered came in the mail. If I remember, it showed up about two hours after I opened the mail that day.
Dan
Oh I do keep spares on hand … but gosh darn it, I paid for that one that’s somewhere on the floor …" [D)]
Dave Nelson
Hobby shops used to keep blue box spare parts in inventory. Have you tried calling any in your area? Might be quicker and cheaper unless you live near the factory.
There’s actually two different types. The switcher caps don’t have the two “fingers” that stick out and the longer wheel base locos do have them. You could just cut them off and use them on a switcher though.
I’ve got a bunch too if you strike out with the others. Let me know.
Though, as Ed suggested, I had patted down my clothes when I first lost the part, I guess I didn’t do quite as thorough a job as I should have. Anyway, my wife walked up to me this morning with the worm gear cover asking if this was the part I had lost. She found it bouncing around inside the clothes dryer. All I can figure is that the part fell into the front pocket of my shirt! Thanks for all your help everyone but my crisis has resolved itself.