I have a MDC 2 truck Shay and the plastic gears on the front driver axles are slipping, so it does not move very well. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix, or know what part I need to fix the issue.
Thanks,
Kevin
I have just the same problem, I found that in my front truck, the second axle is made of metal and has a plastic gear that is driven by the brass worm above it.
The plastic gear on my axle has broken it’s hold and spins freely. Thus unable to transfer any power to the track. The shay will run on three axles but shakes alot doing so.
I recieved advice to use a giant mill file and “Knurl” the center of the axle to create a bite for the middle plastic gear. I have not gotten around to it yet. I am investigating a replacement axle from roundhouse.
Is this the same problem you are having?
I don’t have my NWSL catalog handy but I think they have the parts you need. Give them a call on Monday. They are pretty familiar with this engine.
This is the exact problem that I have. Except for both plastic gears on the front drivers spin freely. I know that NWSL makes a partial regear kit for the MDC 2-truck shay Walthers part # 53-1866, but there is no picture of it, so I am not sure if this is the part that I need. It lists from $20 so I am hesitant to buy it without knowing.
Knewsom,
Again, talk directly to the folks at NWSL. Contact information can be found at NWSL.com
You don’t need to go through Walthers for this one as you’re trying to get the right solution, not a solution that’s going to join all your other shelfware. NWSL like their customers to get the right parts as a happy customer is a potential repeat customer. Describe what your problem is and they’ll tell what they have to help you fix it right the first time.
Here goes… NWSL. Is there any contact information? I would prefer to do it by email or will phone them if needed. I would like this problem to be taken care of the first time since there are a million gears and wheels coming out of there.
Did you even try to contact MDC (now Horizon) with your problem? Maybe others are having the same problem and they have some kind of solution. I bought one of the early MDC Shays in kit form. It worked semi OK for a while, after doing some tweaking, but nowadays it exhibits a similar problem as yours. Since I only paid $32 for it when new, I don’t really mind. And I now also have a Bachmann 3-truck Shay and have more or less retired the inferior in all aspects MDC one.
This seems like a manufacturer’s problem, why not ask them about it?
Bob Boudreau
FundyNorthern,
I chose to follow the possibility of finding a NWSL wheelset that may be a one peice casting or forging.
Roundhouse probably would send a replacement wheelset exactly like the one on the shay that failed. And chances are, it will fail again at some point in the future.
I have contacted both my LHS and NWSL and now I await the answer.
I spoke to NWSL today, and the partial regear kit that I found in Walther’s is what they told me that I needed to get. I ordered one direct from them and I will let you know if it works. It is supposed to come with all four driver wheels.
Wrote to NWSL and recieved the response, I already ordered the Part 186-6 from my LHS and it will arrive in a few weeks.
I am pleased by how the people here are able to communicate about a problem and find a solution together. I think that is a wonderful thing about this Hobby.
Subj: MDC Shay Problem
Date: December 14, 2004
From: fredm@nwsl.com (F R Martin-Northwest Short Line)
To: highiron2003@yahoo.com
Thank you for your inquiry: “I am looking at your 186-6 MDC Shay Partial Regear Kit $19.95 as a possible solution to my Shay problem.
I have a MDC Two truck shay HO scale. The front wheelset that are driven by a gear in the middle from the big brass worm in the top of the truck has failed.
The plastic gear will spin freely on the axle itself and is unable to transfer power to the track.
Will this set supply 4 one peice metal wheels that I can place on this MDC Roundhouse Shay? I suspect the other three wheelsets will fail on the locomotive at some point in the future.”
*******Here is NWSL’s reply
#186-6 kit replaces the 4 axle gears plus the top two gears in the transfer tower (gear driven by the motor and the gear below it.
#188-6 replaces the bottom transfer gear (also called ‘bull gear’) and provides upgraded universal couplings to the trucks.
See the following NWSL catalog page for MDC upgrade gearing information.
page 4-16a: http://nwsl.com/Catalog/cat4-16a-v0203.pdf
Sincerely,
F R Martin, NWSL
206-932-1087 fax 206-935-7106 Office hours: 8am-4pm PST M-F
fredm@nwsl.com
I was wondering if Roundhouse (Horizion) is willing to consider modifying the product in question to include something like NWSL Part# 186-6 during the assembly at the factory. I would not mind paying a few more dollars for the Shay if I knew that problems such as broken plastic gears will not happen in the future.
For everyone’s sake I hope NWSL is talking about gears for the RTR Shay and not the old kit-built Shay, because the parts for the kit are not going to be anywhere near the right thing to fit the RTR version from China.
This seems almost like a factory defect or design flaw. Yall don’t think there’s any chance of any warranty coverage?
These are my two MDC shays,both were kits,in the inst. it say two use an triangle file in the worm drives to clear all burrs,or could reselt in damaged drive gears.#10 is 20 years old and #13 is just six mounths old.I replaced the motors with can motors and put better track pick ups on them.They run scale speed"SLOW" but are fun to watch,and pull an decent load!!They are awaiting engineers,and for me to get of my duff and put the decoders in them.
JIM
This thread makes me glad I got the Bachmann. I almost got the Roundhouse, because of the price difference.