Williams Hudson Drive Shaft: Can it be fixed?

[gg1guy]

This is a common problem. The drive coupling can be replaced

by most experienced train repair shops. 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Have you contacted Bachmann and asked if the part is available?

[rtraincollector]

thanks for the info I thought only weaver had drivetrains and they i know will repair them fairly cheap usually shipping is more than the repair

[rtraincollector]

not familiar with the engine but if they still make it ( williams by bachmann) you can return it to them and they will fix it goto there website http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php

[jeffthetrainguy]

Have a Williams Dreyfuss Hudson (gray w/ tender)....brand new...and it won't run. Lights up, can hear the can motor spinning, but won't run. Removed the shell from the chassis and discovered that the drive shaft from the can motor was not engaging with the wheels. Apparently there is a kind of plastic 'U' joint between the drive shaft on the can motor and the shaft that attaches to the drive wheel assembly...and a side broke off the 'U' joint.... no more resistance. Upon further examination, it appears that this was one of the worst (and cheapest) design flaws you could have imagined for a drive shaft. With almost no torque (or effort), you could snap the side off of this 'U' joint.

My question is two foldL

1) Does anyone out there have any idea what i'm talking about? and

2) Does anyone have a good idea on how to fix this? Almost seems nonsensical to replace this part with the same flawed part.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff