The grand daughter dropped my new (ebay) 1668 Lionel loco on the floor (about 2'). When I went to run it last night the rear driver wheel was off the axle.
I pulled it apart and I can place the wheel back on but I don't know how to keep it from happening again. the axle doesn't come to the end of the wheel flange. Usually I think one stakes the wheel to the axle.
I am considering ordering a replacement axle to see if maybe it is the wrong one. Any ideas or is there a good way to attached the wheel?
I think you must mean "hub", not "flange".
The end of the axle is usually short of being flush with the outer surface of the wheel. Is its position in the hub similar to the other driving axles? Is the back-to-back spacing of the wheels the same as the other drivers? If not, it's possible that you need to press the wheel farther onto the axle. Otherwise, you may have to upset the splines on the axle very slightly until they grip the wheel. Some folks here report good results with cyanoacrylate (super) glue in cases like this.
Bob Nelson
Hi Bob, You are right with the term HUB. When the wheel is in the proper place the axle is maybe 1/8" from the face of the hub. I will check the other driver wheels on the front to see the alignment there.
I took a look. The front axles come to the edge of the hub. The rear ones don't. I think I will order an axle and see what happens. I need an eunit anyway so the shipping is covered.
Does the spacing between the wheels vary from axle to axle?
No, I am sure it is the same.
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