I am looking for parts for my Athearn diesel, it is missing one truck and and wheels, it also needs the belts, it has a case but i need one in better condition. If anyone knows where i can get parts please let me know, it would be great to get it fixed!
If you have a rubber band drive Athearn diesel, you have a model that is approximately 60 years old. If you want to restore it, your best bet would be to check out train shows or model railroad swap meets in your area, looking for a box full of old locos being sold for parts. Athearn called these HiF drives. If you want to use this loco on your layout, don’t. There are lots of diesels made in the last 10 to 20 years that perform much better. Newer Athearns are gear driven and can be found used for less than $20.00. For less than $50.00 you can find used and some new Atlas or Proto diesels that are great runners.
Agree about checking out swap meets. I have lots of old HiF Athearns and I certainly would not be asking much for them if I ever again staked out a table at a swap meet (an interesting experience in itself by the way). Don’t spend too much – in other words, wait for a good price. Don’d forget that a rubber band GP might also have the parts you want.
As far as the advice to never run one – I say, that is up to you. They are not smooth running. They are not quiet. They do pull OK but the need to replace the belts from time to time, which means taking the truck apart, is a pain to be sure. I used to double head my rubber band F unit with my geared F unit and it helped increase the tractive effort, and smoothed out the slight jerky aspect to the rubber band engine.
Dave Nelson
By the “case,” do you mean the plastic shell of the engine? You’re looking for a truck assembly and a shell. These engines are very old, with pitted metal wheels, too, I’d imagine. Beside that, the motor is likely to be shot, and the engine has horn-hooks on the ends, too. (Yes, I have several of these in my collection, too. That’s how I know all of this.)
Seriously, what’s left? The frame and one truck, with wheels that need replacement? You’ve got the makings of a wheelbarrow, but not much more.
This engine is either an F7 or a GP9, because I don’t think they made belt-drive locomotives in any other models. Bachmann makes a perfectly serviceable GP9 which can be had for around $50. It will look and run better out of the box than you could ever get from your old engine.
My old belt-drive GP9 was gutted. I replaced the couplers with Kadees, and it can now run as a dummy or “honorary” engine. The old F7 was also gutted, but I put a sound-only decoder and headlights in it and matched it up with another F7 so I can run AA or ABA consists and have lights and sound at both ends, even though only one unit is powered. These old things are relics from my boyhood, and I couldn’t just let them go, but you’re not going to beat getting a more up-to-date engine for reliability.
That’s basically true, but I think the Athearn rectifier electric was also belt drive. And then there was the Hustler, though it certainly would contribute nothing to the repair of the in-question loco. And the RDC’s, too. And there’s even a big MAYBE that early Athearn 4-6-2’s were rubber band drive.
Ed
I thought about the RDCs, but I didn’t bring them up because they’re not “locomotives.” You’re right about the Hustler, though. That one slipped my mind, even though I have a dead one of those, too. But, it couldn’t be the OP’s engine, because it doesn’t have trucks.
Someone gave me this train for free, the motor ran but i took it apart and cleaned it. i have 1 full truck and wheels a case that is missing one or two letters that i would like to replace. I want it to have all parts and run, but it is planned to be mainly used for display.
Thanks for the advice,
If you ever are selling some HiF Athearns please let me know,
Thanks for the advice,
They used the same trucks for the GP9, F7A and F7B units. So, if you can find any of these at a train show or swap meet, you can use them interchangeably. They used the same shell for both the gear-drive and belt-drive models, so this is another opportunity for cannibalism.
Is the shell you’ve got for a favorite railroad, or are you just looking for any shell to put on this engine?
it can be done but it makes about as much sense and the penn central merger. if you like the challenge, go for it. i like to use the truck assemblies for company material flat car loads since they look kink of like traction motors.
grizlump
One thing the rubber-band drives were GREAT for: continuous running.
A four unit set of Santa Fe F’s at speed were very smooth and very quiet. At the time, that was quite unusual.
Ed
The shell i have is indeed for a favorite railroad, my current shell says Pennsylvania, and i would love to get another.
Thanks for your reply,[:)]
Look around at the hobby shops too. Sometimes they have stuff that;s been there a long time and they want to get rid of it. I picked up four powered (two super power) Athearn F7’s and two MDC RS3’s for less than $40. That worked out as less than $6 per loco.