Question about connecting rods.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I presume the connecting rod on one side of a loco should be in the same location as the rod on the other side, correct? This is a old Rivarossi 0-4-0 docksider I bought used of ebay. It
is a hoot. It has three different styles of drivers (fortunately they’re all the same size), but they are installed such that the lenght wheelbases vary in accordance with the rotation of the wheels, or at least it would were it not for the axle mounting holes. Needless to say, this is a VERY rough running engine, but I guess I shouldn’t expect too much for $10 bucks.

Anyway, how can I rotate wheels to change the location of the connecting rod mounting holes? I tried twisting them with my hands but I’m not strong enough. Is there any type of tool which will do this?

  • Harry

The next time an ebay seller says “I have no way to test the engine,” I’m gonna tell him to buy a 9 volt battery and stick it on the wheels. Live and learn.

2

I believe it is Northwest Short Line (NWSL) that sells what are called “quartering” tools for just this purpose. And, no, the siderods should not be in the same position as those on the other side. Depending on the railroad, the leading rods, if placed at the 3 o’clock position on the right, would mean that the left side rods would be in the 12 o’clock position.

3

And the reason the rods are 90 degrees apart si so that there is a power stroke every 90 degrees, rather than every 180.

4

Thanks guys. I think I’ve got it. Is there in mechanical reason for right-left positions vs left-right positions, or is that just a custom of each individual railroad?

5

What you are reffering to is called “lead” To the best of my knowledge only the PRR used a left handed lead. All others were right handed. The purpose of having the drivers off by ninety degrees is so that the could not wind up in a position that woudl not allow the engine to move under its own power. If they could have been arranged in another maner it would have helped reduce rod pounding and track damage. The one exception to this is three cylinder engines that had a third cylinder between the normal two that would usually drive the second axle of the drivers and had an offset in the front driver axle to allow the drive rod sufficient travel

6

An 0-4-0 with three diffent styles of drivers?

7

What about two drive wheel engines?