4-4-4-2 articulated from two 4-4-2s, gears question

[nickaix]

I once turned an 0-4-0 tank engine from the "Railblazer" set into an 0-6-0, which meant adding extra gears. I ended up ordering idler gears and little steel studs for them to turn on direct from Lionel. Since these were intended as part of the drive train of the smaller can-motor powered locos, you know that what you are getting is going to work.

I don't have a part number, but they should not be hard to find. Download the exploded diagrams and parts lists off the Lionel site and start looking at the small steamers. The part should show up before long.

[servoguy]

Go to StockDrive's web site.  You can buy any kind of gear imaginable from them.  And a lot of other goodies besides.

BB

[Boyd]

Part of this engines purpose is more pulling power. So all of the tall wheels on the engine WILL be powered. I have lived in Minnesota all my life so I'm used to our winters. Though I tend to like them less and less each year.

[Anonymous]

Hi Boyd,  

I'm in way over my head here, but I can't help posting on this.  I didn't think anyone loved to tinker around more than I do.  I suppose with winter coming, you have plenty of time to build this locomotive.

It seems to me that if the gears are aligned and mesh cleanly, the gear hardness isn't a problem.  Lionel used fiber reinforced plastic gears driving steel gears in the 1930's "Super Motor" used in  4 wheeled locomotives like the 262/262E steam & 248/253 electrics.  They have lasted just fine.

None of this is much help.  Why not build the locomotive with one DC motor driving the rear engine & the other engine be a dummy?  (I know it's the challenge that is important and winter in St. Paul must be brutal.)

Byron is the Miami Valley

[Boyd]

From two modern DC can motor powered Lionel 4-4-2 engines I will try to make an articulated 4-4-4-2 engine. To do this I need to heavily modifiy the drive chassis or start with a new one. In order to clear underneath the boiler casting I think I will need to place the drive motors behind the drive wheels of each drive assembly. Thus I will need more gears to transfer the power up to the drive wheels. I have taken apart several RC cars, trucks, a tank, and a Radio Shack Armatron. Most of the gears have the same teeth spacing but are a white plastic instead of a whatever material the black colored gears on the Lionel steamers have. If I mix gears and one is of a harder material than others, can it destroy other gears?