hey fellas,
if anyone just happens to have an extra Athearn HO scale SD40-2 axel W/ gear, I would much appreciate it if you would send it to me. I need it cause I need the bearings. I washed every inch of my engine so it would run better, but, when I washed the wheels, i was not cautious enough to get all the water out of one of the trucks, so water got in the bearing and now it has rusted over and won’t spin.
if you can help me, please email me at: swilliamsmmvi@gmail.com
thanks,
Sean
Just clean the axle with some steel wool. Wipe it clean and apply a light coating of oil, that should do it. Something rusted does not ruin it.
Bob Boudreau
I tried every thing in power to get the thing to roll again, id id get it to roll, but there was a hard spot, so i decided to give up after working on the one bering for 2 hours.
Sean
The bearings are brass, unless the axle is pitted beyond any cleaning you should be able to bring it back. If not change the wheelsets w/ Northwest Shortline 42". these are much better wheelsets anyway, I replace my sintered ones and there’s nothing wrong to begin with. They will stal cleaner and better electrical PU.
I don’t understand why you were washing the assembled trucks down with soap and water in the first place.
Bob K.
I don’t know if you had any luck yet but here is a seller on ebay that handles just about any part for a bluebox engine you could ask for. Check him out I’m sure he has what you need to fix (Major assemblys)
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZk4Q5fpacific
Remove bearing from shaft. Apply small amount of WD40 to shaft and lightly sand with 600 grit sandpaper. With old toothbrush, scrub shaft with a little 10 weight oil. Reassemble shaft.
dang jeffery you have an answer for every thing 
robert, I run my engine on bachmann EZ track no carpet, and there was a carpet fiber build up in the entire locomotive. thats why I was washing it, and a not: I was not washing the assembled truck, I completly took the entire engine apart, into like 20 or 30 differnet pieces, washed every piece relubed it and put it back together.shes much happier now, well, allmost :-0
That’s cause I’m a very smart guy. I’ve got almost 40 years experience in this hobby and I’ve seen a lot of odd-ball problems including the one you have. The solution I gave you should work well. There apparently was a little water on the shaft and it leeched in under the bearing. This would cause the axle to rust somewhat. The bearing itself won’t rust but will need to be cleaned as well. Pipe cleaners work good.