I have been a lurker on this forum for far too long so it’s time to start getting more involved with this community.
I have an Athearn RTR HO RS3 which was a very smooth running loco. It has developed what I can only describe as a clunking noise coming from one of the trucks. Having read various posts about running problems I believe this is likely to be a broken axle or gear. In order to locate the problem I have removed both trucks from the worm housing but I am not sure how to actually disassemble the trucks themselves. Can anyone talk me through the process. Any help will be much appreciated.
I usually just pop off the bottom cover of the truck while it is still on the loco. A hobby knife with a good old #11 blade slid between the cover and truck sides wiggled and twisted slightly will pop the cover free. Atheran can send you new axle gears that you put the half axle and wheel into it. Just don’t forget the bronze bearing. Do all four axles. Not just the cracked one.
One ran fine, the other clunked along, just like you describe. The problem turned out to be the square bronze bearing which kept popping out of place. I inserted a Kadee washer, and that worked to hold the bearing in place.
Thanks for this reply Richhotrain. I always suspected this issue. I have early Reading and CNJ units, first run I believe. Only one worked well. The others just clunked along or would not even move. Athearn sent me new axles and wheels but this only helped one of these. I will look closely at the bushing falling out of the holder. This makes sense.
The Athearn RS-3 is otherwise a great looking model.Chris
Along with Rich’s,suggestion,check to make sure,that the axle end’s that go into the bushings,all the same length, on some of the split axle’s,one side could be pushed further into the gear,than the other resulting,in not much of the axle end,going into the bushing,causing the same outcome.
Thanks very much for your responses - all very sound advice. I now understand how to take the trucks apart and I can now get on with locating the problem.
Thanks again - I look forward to getting this loco back to running sweetly as it did before. It is painted in the early New Haven colours.
I lost my manners ! Thanks for your advice as well - I will check the axle lengths - I presume if I find any variation in axle lengths can this be easily remedied or does it mean getting a replacement set of axles/gears?
Paul, what Frank describes is that the gear may be “off centered” installed on the split axle halves. You can be within gauge, but one axle may be inserted deeper into the gear. This added “exposed” axle is what may cause the bronze bearing to slip from the sideframe of the truck. Ckeck one of the axles for reference, if in gauge and axle centered use it for measurements to position the gear and/ or regauge any axles you may need to work on.
Once I replaced all 12 wheels on a BB SD40 w/ NWS wheelsets, did such a great job checking and guaging all 6, only to realize, that DAH, I forgot to install the bronze bearings…
While you’re at it, Paul, you should get an NMRA gauge If you don’t have one. A simple, flat little piece of sheet metal with a few notches and points around it’s perimeter, not an impressive looking piece of equipment. But for checking wheel spacing, track tolerances, wheel width, etc, there is no substitute. Dan
I’ve had three of those Athearn RS3’s through my shop and every one of them had cracked axle gears - brand new right out of the box.
I thought this problem was a thing of the past once we got through those bad Proto engine gears, but it looks like I may have to restock my gear supply again …