Hello, I have two N scale steam engines that are identical. One has vinyl tubing that connects the motor rod to the rod that connects with worm gear and gear housing shown here:
The second engine had an old rubber rod that dried out and did not work, so I removed it shown here:
My question is, is that there any sites or dealers that can sell small diameter vinyl tubing, I have looked all over and the smallest I have found is 1/16 inside diameter or around 1.6 millimeters. The rod size on the engine is around 1.5 millimeters. Or is there a better way to connect these rods? I would like to keep the original motor and set up, since the other engine runs great this way. Thanks for your help guys!
It.s a long shot may be,but out of other solutions,you may try auto parts stores for windshield washer tubing.There are a few sizes available but I don’t know if any is this small.It may not last as long as your original part,but if it works,it’s real cheap.
While the NWSL drive shafts are nicely-done, model airplane fuel line is much easier to use for such a direct set-up, and it’s a lot cheaper, too. It’s available in several inside diameters, and if the fit is still too loose, apply heat shrink insulation tubing to the drive shaft beforehand.
What I use is, depending on the situation, is one of two things. One is the small neoprene tubing used to keep window screen material in the frame. Its stiffer and has great strength. Its also cheap, a 50’ roll is about $8 at HD or Lowes.
The second I use is an airplane fuel tubing no longer made. Its about 1/2 the size of what’s available today. Most model airplane tubing is too big even for use in HO. This tubing was made for .049 engines and it seems those engines have gone the way of the dinosaur.
