Eilif thomask good post I have many hi fi locos just purchased if you could help don't know what to use to couple the shafts to motor they just keep slipping any help would be appreciated thomask I've heard that there is fuel line tubing that can be purchased at the hardware store that will snuggly attach the motor to the drive shaft. Also, a standard Athearn universal joint should work, but I think the fuel line tubing would be quieter and cheaper. I think at least a couple of the Hi-F drive locos I've had have had a universal, but I don't recall the details. Also, as concerns the entire thread, the term for Athearn band/belt drive locos is "Hi-F" not "Hi-Fi". As has been explained to me, the F stands for "Friction", indicating the advantages of having all trucks powered rather than just one. In 1957 affordable AWD was probably quite an improvement. There's a neat historical timeline you can scroll through at the Athearn site. http://www.athearn.com/About/ Lastly, I'm very glad to see this thread pop up again. After scooping up 3 more out of a dollar-bin at a show a week ago, I'm now up to 8 RDC's in various states and even a few options for repowering them if necessary. It's a good reminder that I really have to sit down and sort them out. Maybe I should try and get all 8 running...
thomask good post I have many hi fi locos just purchased if you could help don't know what to use to couple the shafts to motor they just keep slipping any help would be appreciated thomask
I've heard that there is fuel line tubing that can be purchased at the hardware store that will snuggly attach the motor to the drive shaft.
Also, a standard Athearn universal joint should work, but I think the fuel line tubing would be quieter and cheaper. I think at least a couple of the Hi-F drive locos I've had have had a universal, but I don't recall the details.
Also, as concerns the entire thread, the term for Athearn band/belt drive locos is "Hi-F" not "Hi-Fi". As has been explained to me, the F stands for "Friction", indicating the advantages of having all trucks powered rather than just one. In 1957 affordable AWD was probably quite an improvement. There's a neat historical timeline you can scroll through at the Athearn site.
http://www.athearn.com/About/
Lastly, I'm very glad to see this thread pop up again. After scooping up 3 more out of a dollar-bin at a show a week ago, I'm now up to 8 RDC's in various states and even a few options for repowering them if necessary. It's a good reminder that I really have to sit down and sort them out. Maybe I should try and get all 8 running...
thomask Eilif thomask good post I have many hi fi locos just purchased if you could help don't know what to use to couple the shafts to motor they just keep slipping any help would be appreciated thomask I've heard that there is fuel line tubing that can be purchased at the hardware store that will snuggly attach the motor to the drive shaft. Also, a standard Athearn universal joint should work, but I think the fuel line tubing would be quieter and cheaper. I think at least a couple of the Hi-F drive locos I've had have had a universal, but I don't recall the details. thanks for the info i am thinking primer tubing for small engines like snow blowers
Eilif thomask good post I have many hi fi locos just purchased if you could help don't know what to use to couple the shafts to motor they just keep slipping any help would be appreciated thomask I've heard that there is fuel line tubing that can be purchased at the hardware store that will snuggly attach the motor to the drive shaft. Also, a standard Athearn universal joint should work, but I think the fuel line tubing would be quieter and cheaper. I think at least a couple of the Hi-F drive locos I've had have had a universal, but I don't recall the details.
thanks for the info i am thinking primer tubing for small engines like snow blowers
You're very welcome. That sounds like a good plan. If you bring the motor with you you to the shop should be able to find the right size easily. Whatever you come up with please let me know as I'll probably be dealing with the same issue soon.
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One more suggestion I had forgotten about, if you have a calipers and can measure the diameter of each shaft, there are a multitude of cheap shaft couplers on Ebay. Enter the shaft sizes as "___mm to ___mm" coupling or coupler as your search term. Try "rotatable" or "Universal" if the shafts aren't perfectly level and you want a jointed version.
I still think that rubber tubing might give you the smoothest operation, but it's never a bad idea to have options.
Thanks again let you know how i make out
thomask
purchased fuel line kit at home depot arnold brand 2 sizes are included
the 1/16 fuel line worked great took six months to find something that worked thanks agian