Earlier this week I picked up a basket case PFM 2 truck class C Climax engine. All there but the worm gear that goes on the motor's shaft. Not an easy part to come by. NWSL might have one that fits but its a crap shoot that the worm's pitch will be right to mesh with the original gear. Espically at $10 per gear. So, while pondering, I dug thru my box of spare gears from old projects, mostly tower gears for Kumata diesels I redo for others. Then I found a package holding the original worm and axle gear from an old Rivarossi Casey Jones that I put the NWSL regear in many years ago. The worm meshes perfectly with the original gear. Its a smaller shaft size(2mm vs original 2.4mm), so I soldered it to some 2mm shaft with a soldered "keeper" on the other side of the support tower. Then hooked up my Canon EN22 3200 rpm motor. Runs perfectly and even at full RPM, the speed is right where a geared engine should be going. Need to mount the motor in some silicone caulk. I be a happy camper! Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I'm also a firm believer in keeping every odd part that's left over from other engines. You never know when you might need something...
While now and then cleaning house makes total sense, it isn't like it costs money to save old parts and the left over bits of kitbashes and other projects. You just never know ....
Dave Nelson
Keeping them is easy. Finding them when you need them - ah that's a problem.
Paul
One of the Walthers SD7/9s that I bought had an extra winterization hatch (one installed, and one in the parts bag). I later used it to upgrade an older production run LL SD9 that had one that wasnt see-through. I also kept the non-see through one. I figured I could mill it out and replace with etched brass material.
I think most of us are tinkerers. That leads us to become "packrats"
In that vein, I rarely, if ever, toss something or take an item to a recycling center unless I've picked it clean of anything even remotely useable.
IMG_7186_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
Where I worked there was a bin for scrap electronics and I was often found picking through there for salvageable "goodies". Some of the cables and computer wire was especially handy for small electronic and decoder install projects.
Not to mention pancake fans, hard drives, linear actuators, all sorts of springs, bushings, shoulder screws, stepper motors. In fact just the other day I was replacing trucks on a brass passenger car and needed a spacer and shoulder screw. Sure enough, I found what I needed in one of the trays I keep similar to the one shown above.
One man's trash...
Is another man's flat car load!
Regards, Ed
Problem is not saving stuff. Problem is finding what you're looking for when you're sure you have it "someplace".
I don't have any spare parts except for long shank couplers that I will ever use. I do need a new motor for my Amtrak P42 and maybe some worm gear, springs, and etc.
Perhaps one day.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
maxman Problem is not saving stuff. Problem is finding what you're looking for when you're sure you have it "someplace".
If I have it, I can find it:
Hosted on Fotki
When I'm putting something new in the stash, I ask myself, "where's the first place you would look for it here if you already had it?" That 's where it goes. Works for me! Dan
I have many little drawers normaly used in the garage to hold nuts and bolts that hold parts for steam engines, diesel engines, brass engines, drive line parts ect. Then seperate boxes that hold spare trucks from Kumata built brass diesels I have retrucked with quieter running Samhongsa trucks and other stuff. But I have been repairing trains, espically HO brass and LGB G scale for several sources for several years. The LGB repairs have all but disappeared but I keep getting a brass piece here and there for remotoring or to fix loose/broken parts. Mike the Aspie
Always a good idea. Just because you might not need some parts right now doesn't mean you won't need `em for something later. Or at least that's what I tell myself.
I have little tubs that hold small parts They do conevin handy
Joe Staten Island West
As a organized pack rat, I understand. An being the flugal type is a added plus. Then coming from a rather humble low income family too. Your "roots" never leave you and happy that, that who I am.
What you see, is what you get!
I've been in the hobby, some 45 plus years now, starting back in high school.
Was able to save money back then, by collecting soda pop bottles for refund money, collecting scrap metals (legally) for resale (back then you did not have to be 18 with a valid drivers license), mowed yards during mowing season, did yard work and threw a evening paper route (Newspapers 2 X per day) after school and a few other legal jobs.
From these proceeds I was able to open a bank savings account and would deposit a percentage of these earnings into same, on a very regular basis.
Still that way for me and I continue to have a seperate account for train stuff, nothing purchased on credit. I save up for something(s) and buy when money is there to purchase and own out right, without interest on purchase (s).
Of coarse like some modelers have accumilated stuff over the years, waiting to be assembled.
For me that's the fun of it, building something with my own hands and he a form of relaxation and entertainment for me.
Hey that's me and you too, the organized pack rat!
Parts collecting for me started about 10 years ago or so, when Athearn closed proudction at it's Compton, California Plant.
Same for Mantua, MDC Roundhouse and others.
SouthgateWhen I'm putting something new in the stash, I ask myself, "where's the first place you would look for it here if you already had it?"
.
That is exactly what I do, and it seems to work about 85% of the time.
Great rule to use when you stash stuff.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I keep every extra part, even tiny scraps of styrene in old Athearn blue boxes which I label. You never know when an old leftover piece from a kit will come in hand for scratchbuilding or whatever.
IRONROOSTER Keeping them is easy. Finding them when you need them - ah that's a problem. Paul
god can i relate