With so many steam locos being batch produced and not being sure anything will be remanufactured in the future, (or at least 2-7yrts.) what are the essential spare parts to keep on hand for repairs in the coming years? (loco/manufacturer specific)…
I own Blueliine, Paragon 2, Athearn Genesis Articulateds, some Bachmann although with their lifetime warrantee I guess parts on hand isn’t an issue.
Is there something(s) you would order from your manufacturer to keep on hand? Thanks.
The screws used for crank pins would be one item. If you use them, spare tires.
Pete
I don’t own any modern locomotives (the plastic or die cast imports from China), so I can’t say specifically. A lot is going to depend on how many running hours and how much load you put on them. Common wear points are the mentioned crankpin screws, side rod holes, wheel nickel plating (if plated brass), worm - if made from too soft a material or if worm gear is too hard a material, motor brushes, and axle “bearings”. Wear can be significantly accelerated if fit is not correct and/or there is no lubrication.
The Chinese production model does not encourage spare parts stocking. Bachmann frequently runs out of parts to fix a given locomotive under warranty and will substitute a different locomotive for the “repair”. And I don’t believe the designs have long running lives with replaceable wear points in mind.
Do any of your locomotives have axle bearings or bearing inserts? If not, what happens when the axle wears away the frame where it rolls? Can you take the motor apart to replace the brushes? Or is the motor “disposable”? Is the gear mesh in the gear box adjustable? Exactly what can be replaced? How much are you able to tear into these locomotives and adjust or repair them?
I guess my point is I suspect the Chinese RTR locomotives are designed for perhaps a 1000 hrs running time - and that’s it. It’s not like Mantua or Bowser locomotives where worn parts could/should be
For USA made locos, most probably SAE hardware. For locos made elsewhere, Metric hardware. Hardware has a habit of hiding. You may need SAE taps and Metric taps to see what size the tread is if you buy your own hardware. I do that.
Bachmann made in China, the belt drives can be an issue. Some people have purchased those parts temperately as I watch the Bachmann forums and there is a page to inquire about parts.
Athearn seems to be good for ordering parts, though all I order are the parts for Athearn/Roundhouse steamers.
Rich
Thanks guys. Fred thanks for all the details. If anyone has other suggestions, feel free to post them. Are the crank pin screws a commonly found item? It’s too bad that nothing is truly built to last ,with repair parts readily available like back in the '60s and earlier, always on hand from the manufacturers. It’s motors, specific gears, spare driving rods, whatever you might find yourself needing. I had thought about Bachmann belt drive belts.