MDC two-truck Shay

[philo426]

Yeah it's cool like I said before I do have 2 of them so if I send you one I still have a spare so I'm good!It shows no signs of stripping it's gears so I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

I'd agree that the NWSL site is confusing, but don't let that put you off.  The stuff they offer is first rate, accurately made and it fits.  You'll also find that they are quite helpful.  I've done several remotoring, regearing projects with their stuff, and it greatly improves performance.  I found the $ spent for their printed catalog was well worth it because at least for me it was easier to understand than the website.

The issue with the factory MDC gearing is that it is cast and not machined.  That means that due to tolerences, die wear, etc., sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.  There also is the problem that some of the gears won't hold up under use.  The NWSL stuff is accurately machined, meaning that it is held to tight tolerences and is concentric.  If you're happy with the factory gearing, that's great! (I've had prettty good luck with my MDC rod engines), but if it breaks, is noisy, etc., the NWSL stuff will offer much improved performance.

In short, you'll like NWSL if you try them.  It's good stuff & good folks.

JBB

[philo426]

I agree I bought a set of NWSL wheel-sets  for my Athearn PA-1 dummy engine and she runs much better!

[philo426]

GWN GUY,do you still want that gear?I haven't heard from you.Please advise!

[Anonymous]

Philo,

Yes, sorry.  I sent through an email, but appears not to have worked.  So, let me do a pm.

 

Thanks,

Bill 

[dinwitty]

 

 

Ours has a surging type of lurching on the down hill as slow speeds.

But so did the prototype

 

Roofles!!!

 The mechanics are different on the model vs proto. MDC is geared straight to the trucks and the side linkages go for the ride and don't carry the power. I have no clue if the Bachmann uses the linkages to transfer the power, but on the downhill the train will cause the powering to loosen up and speed up till it hits the gearing in reverse and kick the motor faster.

Then it speeds up again till it hits the other direction of the gears and slows down.

Depending if the throttle was up on the prototype and brakes not set, it would hitch too.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Philo,

IF you would like it,let me know I have 2 extra ones.When I ordered spare parts in the '80s they sent you the whole sprue that the requested part was molded on!Good deal and nice to have extra incase something goes wrong!

 

Thank you!  Got the gear today, and I really appreciate the favor. 

 

Is the shaft that the gear is mount on just a holder that I should be able to remove, or is the gear mounted permanently on the shaft?  The gear that I had was just the gear with the center hole.  I ask because even when looking at it with my magnifyer  (my eyes aren't what they used to be), I can't tell if it's one piece or not. And I don't want to start hammering away if I'm not supposed to.

 Thanks,

Bill

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah it's cool like I said before I do have 2 of them so if I send you one I still have a spare so I'm good!It shows no signs of stripping it's gears so I'll keep my fingers crossed!

ok, sorry, senior moment.  It appears that the metal shaft that the old gear was mounted on comes out of the other fitting thing, and the new gear, shaft and all fits back into the fitting thing.  The "fitting thing" is the plastic piece that mates up to the electrical motor. So, I'll try putzing around with it and see where I get.

[Anonymous]

Ours has a surging type of lurching on the down hill as slow speeds.

But so did the prototype

 

Roofles!!!

 The mechanics are different on the model vs proto. MDC is geared straight to the trucks and the side linkages go for the ride and don't carry the power. I have no clue if the Bachmann uses the linkages to transfer the power, but on the downhill the train will cause the powering to loosen up and speed up till it hits the gearing in reverse and kick the motor faster.

Then it speeds up again till it hits the other direction of the gears and slows down.

Depending if the throttle was up on the prototype and brakes not set, it would hitch too.

Go back and re-read the posts from the beginning. The person was referring to their Bachmann lurching, not an MDC, and yes the Bachmann is powered through the drivelines, like the prototype. I have have both am I am quit aware of the mechanics of the MDC and the Bachmann thank you Mr Roofles. 

 

[philo426]

According to the instructions the gear mounts at the top of the central gear-box.The power universal is then mounted to the output shaft after the gear box is assembled.Which in turn couples to the motor via the universal drive.if you would like ,I can photocopy the instructions and send them to you.

[Anonymous]

Philo,

After a bit of putzing, and a little cursing, the little folks at the high logging camp once again have their narrow gauge loco to get those fallen trees down to town.

 

The biggest shortcoming in getting the RTR loco (at least in my case) is there are no instructions, documentations, nothin. Thats also why there was a little cursing. But it wasn't too difficult (or I wouldn't have been able to do it). I think you're using the term "universal drive" where I was using "fitting thing". Your terminology is probably more accurate then mine. I doubt I would find "fitting thing" in the NWSL catalog.

 

Both me an the little folks thank you again!

Bill

[philo426]

Okay!Glad it helped!I'll send out the instructions next week.(Doesn't hurt to be prepared just in case)!

[Anonymous]

You will find all you need here

http://www.hoseeker.net/mdcmiscellaneous.html

[Anonymous]

Okay!Glad it helped!I'll send out the instructions next week.(Doesn't hurt to be prepared just in case)!

 

Thanks Philo, just got em. It is nice to have the step by step. Hope I never have to use 'em!

Bill 

 

 

Twomule- thats a great reference page, thanks for the link.  I did find the parts list, but I didn't find the assembly instructions.  Still, I did bookmark it.

[philo426]

Yeah I'ts cool!Just glad you got the Shay running again!

[trainboy414]

An entire book was written on how to get one of these Shay kits to run properly by using parts from North West Short Line and other manufacturers.  When I calculated the cost of the parts, they were going to be more than the original kit.

Then MDC came out with the RTR version, so I bought it.  I still have an unassembled kit that I will probably never attempt to use.

Even so, the Bachmann Spectrum 3-truck Shay is a much better engine.

i'f you still have that kit i'll take it off your hand because i've been looking for a logging engine to pull some log cars thet my 0-4-0 can't pull

[trainboy414]

An entire book was written on how to get one of these Shay kits to run properly by using parts from North West Short Line and other manufacturers.  When I calculated the cost of the parts, they were going to be more than the original kit.

Then MDC came out with the RTR version, so I bought it.  I still have an unassembled kit that I will probably never attempt to use.

Even so, the Bachmann Spectrum 3-truck Shay is a much better engine.

i'f you still have that kit i'll take it off your hand because i've been looking for a logging engine to pull some log cars thet my 0-4-0 can't pull

[John_PWH]

I have both HO and HOn3 MDCs that need regearing.  Which regear kit did you use?

 

Thanks,

 JOhn K

 

[tbdanny]

jeffers_mz

The mechanism has a "gear loop" in it.

Gears inside the loco turn the wheels, which turn the exterior gears which run the valve gear.

 

But isn't this the case in the Atlas N scale Shay as well?  That mechanism runs perfectly.  Is there any explanation as to why, out of two mechanisms with a gearing loop in them, one runs perfectly and one does not?

[gear-jammer]

John,

We used the NWSL regearing kit.  I believe they have a regear kit for the 3-truck now.

Sue