I was installing a decoder into an early Walthers SW1 and lost the nut that holds the worm gear in place on the rear truck. Any ideas where I could find a replacement. I struck out at Walthers.
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
Congratulations! Your nut just entered the Quantum time-space continum and will be found on April 16th 2023.
In the mean while... What is the thread of the part to witch the nut wood attach.
Is it ASE or Metric? If you have not a tool that will measure this for you, then go to a good nuts and bolts store, maybe even bring the part with you and tell the clerk that your train needs new nuts, and find one that fits.
Nust are nuts, but I prefer pecans!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Does your SW1 look like this one?
https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1515
IIRC they were made by Roco, so probably metric. That said, I'm not sure the nut to which you refer.
Gary
Well Gents, I misspoke. The missing part is not a nut but is the worm gear bearing that holds the worm gear in the proper position on the truck.
tankertoad135 Well Gents, I misspoke. The missing part is not a nut but is the worm gear bearing that holds the worm gear in the proper position on the truck.
Oh.... Now that is a whole gnu ball of wax!!!
Maybe you cabn look on e-bay. You will not find the bearing that you need, but you might find a broken locomotive that may have the parts you need.
Look at the bearings closely, you said 'nut' so methinks that is looks like a 'nut' and therefore an old Atheran drive may have the part you need.
Buy a nold locomotive for the pards, take the parts you need and park the carcass of the donar engine on your dead line.
When I get into a project like this, I make sure there's a little plastic cup or container on the workbench. All of the little parts go into this if they have to come off of the engine or car. It won't help you this time, but it has saved me from losing unobtainable parts. The "manufacturers" seem to have lost interest in spare parts.
tankertoad135The missing part is not a nut but is the worm gear bearing that holds the worm gear in the proper position on the truck.
Oh dear. That sounds like you will need a donor locomotive.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I Googled "athearn worm gear bearing" and turned up numerous sources for these things.
George
Edgewood, WA
tankertoad135I was installing a decoder into an early Walthers SW1 and lost the nut that holds the worm gear in place on the rear truck
Hi Don,
Something you need to look at closely is whether or not there were any thrust washers between the bearing and the worm. I'm not familiar with the Walthers trucks specifically, but I know that most of my drive trucks have thrust bearings. Beware, they are tiny and easily missed!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Yes.. You shoud see the thrust bearings on the
Battleship New Jersey.
BroadwayLion Yes.. You shoud see the thrust bearings on the Battleship New Jersey.
What exit?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasleyWhat exit?
More here: (thrust bearing begins at 2:50)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5dkJ_KqljA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleship_New_Jersey_Museum_and_Memorial
Exit 5 off the North-South freeway I-676.
Good Luck, Ed
2ManyHobbeezI Googled "athearn worm gear bearing" and turned up numerous sources for these things.
Hi George,
The OP was referring to a Walthers SW1. Do you know if the Walthers bearings are the same as the Athearn bearings?
The Walthers bearing is different than Athearn's and I do have the thrust washer. I had secured the items in a secure space, but moved a couple of items around without thinking. When I glanced at the floor, I saw the thrust washer but no bearing. Too bad Walthers does not stock much in replacment parts. I shall keep a lookin'.
Thanks y'all.
tankertoad135I shall keep a lookin'.
I think that searching the floor is your best bet. I have been known to recruit my wife occasionally in these situations. I would also suggest getting a really bright flashlight (if you haven't already done so) and shining the light from several different directions. If you still don't have any success then get your nose closer to the floor and search in a small grid pattern. If that fails, then search a wider area, but always in an organized pattern. Parts like your bearing can bounce pretty good, and Murphy's Law says that they will go under anything that keeps them out of sight. Contrary to superstitions, lost things are NOT consummed by the underworld! Keep searching. It is there somewhere!
hon30critter Contrary to superstitions, lost things are NOT consummed by the underworld! Keep searching. It is there somewhere!
Its Quantum Mechanics.
A coin is neither heads nor tails while it is spinning on its edge.
When it stops spinning it can be either heads or tails but not both.
If it comes up heads the reverse side is completely blankunless you pick it up to look at it.
NWSL has some bushings and bearings if your search proves fruitless.
Well, good news anyway. I have yet to find the missing worm gear bearing, however, I went to Bowser Trains site and their parts department. The Bowser VO1000 drive has the same bearing as Walthers SW1 and I purchased a pair of them. The replacement fit perfectly and now the SW1 runs sweetly. Now to get done with the decaling and detailing so's I can return her to the club for ops in our new yard.
Cool resource. Dan