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Need help with Athearn rubber band drive

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  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,706 posts
Posted by zstripe on Thursday, January 17, 2019 7:23 AM

The rubber tubes on the motor must be on very, very tight and the bands on the band shaft, must all face the same direction as in the photo that I posted. You can use neoprene tubing of the same kind that are used in fish tank oxygen lines. They come in different inside diameters. The motor shaft diameter is larger than the band drive diameter so get a size that is very tight on the band shaft and equally hard to get on the motor shaft. I never used what people say works for the rubber bands like what You used, so I can't comment, but tend to agree that they are too tight. I was fortunate to be able to use exact replacements for them, but they are Not rubber. They are synthetic rubber which does not dry out, but I don't think you can get them anymore........

Good Luck! Big Smile

Frank

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 17, 2019 7:33 AM

There are some rubber bands, ATH 90101, on Ebay.  Athearn sold them with 24 in a package.

Ebay sellers sell them in 3 packs?  Typical, I guess.

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Indiana
  • 225 posts
Posted by mikeGTW on Thursday, January 17, 2019 7:38 AM

I have never tried those hair bands but sounds like they are too heavy or too small the shaft for the bands on the ones I have are the same size as the motor shaft they have a added piece on them The best is the ones with the ball and socket So if you are determined to get them to run replace that small piece of tubeing its probably dried out and no good The bands can still be ordered on evil bay I went looking at my collection and have all the different ones and the three aba set with the kentron update those actually run with geared engines Also found three envelopes with orig athearn drive belts opened one and hard to believe still good But like others have said put em in retirement   and the price on them 25 cents

  • Member since
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  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 17, 2019 7:43 AM

Never dealt with this shop before, but they have an original package, an address and a phone number, might be worth checking out.  From a Google search for ATH 90101.

https://www.chuckstrains.com/90101-HO-Drive-Belt-Rubber-Band-24-ATH-90101.htm

There are some out, just have to look.

Mike.

 

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Posted by Wolf359 on Friday, January 18, 2019 2:19 PM

The Railwolf

So I got the Goody clear silicone hair bands from Walmart and installed them in my F7A, but it seems they must be too tight, as the motor struggles to turn and the driveshafts actually work their way free of the motor shafts in short order. I'm disappointed in this result but I assume there must be a better fitting band, and a way to better secure the shafts to the motor?

 

 

You should try the black Goody "Ouchless" elastic bands. I used them on my F7s and I've never had any problems with them. I bought a 250 count value pack, (not that I needed that many, but it was the only one available) and it has three or four different sizes in the pack. I used the biggest size, which, when laying on a flat surface by itself is roughly the diameter of a penny. Also, being elastic, they have enough play in them that the motor can turn the driveshafts and axles without straining. I hope this helps. Good luck!

  • Member since
    April 2019
  • 25 posts
Posted by thatweirdwriterdude on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 12:56 PM

gmcrail
I had one of these in an F-7 back in 1961, and as I remember, it was not any noisier than the stock drive, which was remarkably quiet for the time.

 

man my F7 is noisey and shoots out sparks when running around my loop of track i use to test locos on, 'bout as loud as my life-like F7 actually

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Chicago, IL
  • 306 posts
Posted by Eilif on Thursday, April 4, 2019 9:18 AM

thatweirdwriterdude

 

 
gmcrail
I had one of these in an F-7 back in 1961, and as I remember, it was not any noisier than the stock drive, which was remarkably quiet for the time.

 

 

 

man my F7 is noisey and shoots out sparks when running around my loop of track i use to test locos on, 'bout as loud as my life-like F7 actually

 

Are the sparks coming from the wheels (dirty wheels or out of gauge probably) or from the motor?

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, April 4, 2019 9:25 AM

He's already started one thread on this, scroll down in the Gen. Conversations.

He hasn't added any more info, or at least a picture on his problem.  

In the first thread, I gave him links to the HOSeeker site, to look up his locos, to help determine his problem.

Must looking for a magical solution, as he gives us no help.

Mike.

  • Member since
    April 2019
  • 25 posts
Posted by thatweirdwriterdude on Monday, April 8, 2019 11:32 AM

mikeGTW
I have never tried those hair bands but sounds like they are too heavy or too small

  those bands from Goodies are what i use for my hustler switcher, and they are a bit small, but i think it's a good thing, in my opinion, because it grips the drive shaft better, so more traction for it.

  • Member since
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  • 25 posts
Posted by thatweirdwriterdude on Monday, April 8, 2019 11:35 AM
yes, the sparks are from the wheels, but it's because the engine's shorting out
  • Member since
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  • 25 posts
Posted by thatweirdwriterdude on Monday, April 8, 2019 12:58 PM

man i told ya my problems about the F7, the drive shaft is bent and the lead wire is broken, but i put in a new one, that's all. everything else works fine on it, i replaced the rubber bands, the engine still runs, i was just wondering how to fix the drive shaft, and now i know how, you don't gotta be talkin' mess about all this, everything's good.

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