Hi I just purchased the engine listed above that has never been run (I think its a 1976) and am having some problems with it and am not sure how to get some advise. Motor wants to go and light does light up, however these two metal pieces in the front keep coming out of their holes and stop movement of the gear. Any thoughts or ideas where I might get a service manual?
Thanks,
Matt
I fixed up several Rivarossi steam locos a few years back. Golf Manor Hobbies in Cincinnati had all the parts and Rivarossi diagrams I needed for each. Last time I was in Cincy about a year or so ago they were still in business. Telephone: 513-351-3849.
One of the engines was a cab forward. In that case, I only needed to buy some detail parts. The main repair I made to this loco was to super glue the broken frame back together. The frame was broken at the rear cylinders causing the mechanism to bind up on one set of drivers.
Here is the exploded view from http://hoseeker.net. Your description is a little vague. Are the side rods or valve gear coming apart? Is the rear engine not completely attached to the boiler? See if you can tell from the parts list.
(Click on images to enlarge.)
looks like its time to give it a complete checkover.
dont force it, you could break something.
You will want to take the shell off to get to the mechanics.
The motor should have shafts going to worm gears which have a vertical rotating shafts that runs down to another worm gear at the wheels.
Have some plastic compatible grease handy.
with a small screwdriver remove the screws on the vertical worm gears, then with a small screwdriver try turning the little shafts that go down, this will check if one is binding up.
Binding up can mean problems in the siderod motion.
more often tho the engine may need a full lube job.
I always put oil on the siderods and any other surfaces where metal touches metal.
The lower worm gears will need grease.
Get used to this because Steam lokies are always labor intensive, but is good to do.
Even the new steamers I will lube up at least the siderods.
Hi - your diagram is awsome! Anyway, here is what I think the issue is - the piece labeled 21/22 has a rod that extends into the hole(s) on the right hand side
of part 101. When this happens the running gear binds and pushes the platform labeled 33 to an abnormal angle. Hope this helps clear the vagueness.
Thanks,
Matt
Okay, that clears it up. It sounds like the piston rod or valve gear is not going into the cylinder properly, perhaps because it’s bent. Glad the diagram helped. [8D]
Hi - based on my latest description, what might your thoughts be? I am very new to this and do not want to make the problem worse. Will by the oils and grease.
Thanks,
Matt
If that does not work, look at part 101. Mine was broken at the cylinders. That’s what I super glued together.
You can certainly try moderate lubrication, but it sounds more involved than that. Do you have a digital camera so that you can post a photo of the problem?
“If that does not work, look at part 101. Mine was broken at the cylinders. That’s what I super glued together.”
Heartland, your cylinders were broken off of the frame? That would certainly explain the piston problem. It’s probably a weak point, especially with that huge rear deck.
Matt, are the cylinders and platform on 101 loose or broken?
Hi Nelson - will be there in about five minutes.
Thanks again,
Matt
Yes, the plastic frame was broken against the cylinders and the platform would wobble. Carefully super gluing solved the problem about 3 or 4 years ago. It’s still fixed, but I don’t use that engine often.
Garry
Hi Nelson - I cannot find anything broken, however there does seem to be more travel between 101 and the platform else the metal rods would not keep slipping out? I just took some pictures, however being new to this forum, am still working out how to post them.
You can’t upload the photos directly to the forum. You have to upload them to a site like Photo Bucket and link to them using the little picture button in the post dialog.
Can you tell if cylinders of part 101 wobble? Hold the drivers mounted on part 101 steady with one hand and use your thumb and forefinger to hold the cylinders of part 101. Then try to move the cylinders back and forth or up and down. If cylinders jiggle its most likely the problem I had. It’s very hard to see the break without unassembling some parts… Garry
Hi Gary - when I hold part 101 still, the cylinders (attached to platform) move side to side and up and down a lot - when I do this, the metal rods come out depending on how far the drive gear has pushed them in. I take it the platform is supposed to be tight to the body of the rest of the locomotive and prevent this?
Thanks,
Matt
I have my cab forward in front of me and I’m trying to compare it with the photos. It looks like cylinders and the platform droop down in your second picture.
Holding a straight edge on the drive wheel bottoms of my engine, I see the cylinder bottoms and the platform are parallel with the straght edge. Holding it against the image of yours on the screen looks like they are not parallel. The farther out you go along the platform the lower it gets as well as I can see in your picture. Is that the case?
Yep. The whole assembly should be tight. Garry was right. I’m sure it can be repaired, but it’s beyond a beginner’s experience level.
On mine they move very freely - so the platform/cylinders will droop or rise easily. Sounds like they shouldn’t?
Thanks,
Matt