I have several Athearn engines, both belt-drive and gear-drive, leftover from my first HO layout in the Eisenhower administration. I got some of them to run, barely. I even put decoders into a couple of them, and verified the old adage, "If it doesn't run well on DC, it will run even worse on DCC." So, I looked into replacing the wheels and trucks, and the motor as well. Fortunately, M.B. Klein saved me when I found a couple of brand new GP9s for less than it would have cost to upgrade the old ones.
I did turn some of those old engines into dummies, but my point is that your old unit may not be worth it, unless, of course, you would enjoy it as a project, which is a perfectly good reason to do it.
I just checked. You can get a new Walthers RDC from Trainworld for $50. Think seriously about taking the motor out of the old one, upgrading the couplers and running the two together. The old trucks and wheels will suffice to run lights in the car if you'd like.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
B30-7CR Hi there, I have an Athearn BB RDC with the near-prehistoric rubber band drive. I'm wondering if anyone has the schematics or knows where to find them so I can see which parts I'm missing. Thanks!
Hi there,
I have an Athearn BB RDC with the near-prehistoric rubber band drive. I'm wondering if anyone has the schematics or knows where to find them so I can see which parts I'm missing. Thanks!
This might help.
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/259-3
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
There is a excellent replacemnt kit manufactured to rid yourself of the rubber band drive system.
Comes with excellent instructions and is a rather simple project to undertake and will gain you skills, which you thought that you did not have.
You are never too old to learn and no one is all thumbs. Just take your time, you would be surprised what you can do and accomplish.
The Kit is Manufactured by Ernst Manufacturing Company as a sideline to their primary business, which is not model railroad related.
And these kits are Made in the United States of America, by a American owned company, employing Americans!
Still listed and available, in the Walthers Catalog, printed and on-line.
Do yourself a favor and buy the Athearn replacements. They have them and they are also a normal feeBay item. Not expensive!
The "close enough" replacements from Wally World and other places aren't exact and aren't as well made as the correct Athearns. I've found, over the years, that the non-Athearns tend to be inconsistant in thickness and this causes uneven tracking over the drive shafts which causes minor lurching or surging in speed. This is much more noticable at slow speed.
Some of the "close enough" bands are also pretty tight and I've had this put so much tension on the drive shaft riding in the tower supports that it wore down into the support.
Just buy the correct ones and you can't go wrong.
My 2¢.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Athearn stocks them:
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH90101
Take Care!
Frank
For replacement of the original bands, some modelers have suggested the "Goody" brand vinyl plastic/elastic hair bands sold at WalMart in packages. They may be the clear type with a 1-inch diameter or so, but they are synthetic. I believe. One informational source on this may be the Tyco Forum, where some discussion of replacement for Athearn rubber bands has occurred.
Cedarwoodron
Here you go.
http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionAthearn/athearnrdc131964.jpg
http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionAthearn/athearnrdc1rdc3.jpg
Jim
Crap happens. When it does, stop, take a deep breath, and call the wreck train.