Lionel Early 90s Dash 8 40C gear mesh issues??

[rtraincollector]

sent you an E-Mail Kevin

[KRM]

I have 3 Lionel Early 90s Dash 8 40Cs they are:

NORFOLK SOUTHERN   DASH 8-40C 4,000 hp DIESEL # 8689

NORFOLK SOUTHERN   DASH 8-40C 4,000 hp DIESEL # 8688

CSX   DASH 8-40C 4,000 hp DIESEL # 7500

They all share a common problem. The transfer gears on the sides of the drive trucks are so sloppy that they do not always engage the axle gears. None of them has excessive run time and all have been lubed when in use but yet the plastic gears are so loose on the center pins they run on that they slop all over. Add to that the side movement of the axles and there you have it. No contact. Is this common? Seems to be and what if anything can be done to tighten them up?

 Thanks in advance, Kev.