Athearn genesis 2-8-2

[Anonymous]

Help: How do you safely remove the boiler shell to get at the drive mech. The motor runs but no drive. The drivers just spin freely. Any suggestions?

[Virginian]

Uh-oh. Sounds like a cracked axle gear. If that is it, you don't need to remove the boiler, just go in from the bottom.
Anyway, to remove the boiler, first remove the cab. Spread at the bottom and pull up.
Remove front and rear trucks.
Pop the front struts that run from the boiler to the pilot deck out of the boiler.
Remove the long screw that goes up thru the bottom in the front into the boiler weight.
Pop the firebox sides off.
Pull the smokebox front, disconnect the light, and remove the smokebox front.
Work the boiler shell off the frame.
I think that's it.

[Anonymous]

Other members reported same problem on the 4-6-2. Free replacement drive gears
are on back order and Athearn didn't have any idea as to when.

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

Other members reported same problem on the 4-6-2. Free replacement drive gears
are on back order and Athearn didn't have any idea as to when.

Thanks for that info. I have 2 Athearn 2-8-2s. One runs fine (it could actually pull 4 box cars up a 2% grade. LOL I have lead weights everywhere they will fit and it does better now). The other when first put on the track, moved one half inch and quit. Being the curious type that manages to fix most problems by trial and error. I proceeded to take it apart. It has a broken drive gear. It now sits in a box waiting for someday to come. I will contact Athearn and get on the list for the "replacement gear". It will probably arrive before "someday". Getting it back together may be another thing...........

[steveblackledge]

there's one up for grabs on ebay at the moment, the owners lost the plot, dismantled it and given up, it's in Atlanta, it's up to $16.50 if you can fix it

[KuhlZR5]

I have a Genesis 2-8-2 with the same problem. I, too, have taken it apart to see if something could be done. I came across a replacement gear that might work listed in the Walthers catalog for a Samhongsa loco (21T). I'm not sure if it will work but it might be worth a shot. So now my problem is, how do I press the axle set apart the poor man's way? The local hobby shop has a puller but it won't work the way the axle is designed. Anybody have any ideas?

[Anonymous]

I had a Athearn 2-8-2. It was my first plastic steamer of any size in 20 years. It is a sweet runner but lacked greatly in pulling power. I sold it to finance a BLI Heavy Mike which satisfies me performance wise.

They are great engines I am glad mine ran well as it did but it just cannot pull anything.