Testing my equipment, found that my South Shore little Joe had a stripped screw thread on the pilot truck sideframe and could not hold the truck together. I pondered this and figgered a larger screw with a shoulder would NOT work rethreaded, I dont have the parts now to do that. Its cold, Jan 1 everybody's closed. The only solid fix was to have a screw go all the way through with a holding nut. I shiver when having to modify a quality brass model, but this had to be done to rescue this engine.
I had to drill a hole, ONE hole, ONE time, and ONCE accurate.
I recently bought some micro-drills and they fit the job nice. The fit in the dremel with near standard sized drill, like 1/8th inch then are machined into the mini drill size. Real nice.
Now how do you do a ONCE drill ACCURATE hole?
You need this.
Dremel tool with drill press adapter, then I found this nifty 2 way clamp with screw adjusters, it works out perfect.
the fix, maybe not too obnoxious, fake some detail on it paint it black, it will blend in.
Now looking more at home. Need to finish paint and decals. It will slide thru the 22" radius, but not pretty, 26" is its reccomended minimum.
I needed this engine running because I will be building the Michigan City module and this will test the module.
Caboose isnt correct for South Shore but what the hoot. CSS had a smaller bay on it. Its fun time for now.
I assume the engine is an NWSL engine? Do you still have the original motor in it? Have you upgraded the wheels and or driveshafts?
Cool seeing the pix of little Joe. As you're probably aware such repairs are very much in the spirit of how the old CSS&SB kept the real ones running. Had the treat of visting the shops back in 1970 and got to sit up in the cab of just about everything in the yard, including the Joes. Would love to see pix of your module. Please post 'em
JBB
Trynn_Allen2 wrote:I assume the engine is an NWSL engine? Do you still have the original motor in it? Have you upgraded the wheels and or driveshafts?
NWSL, Everything is still original, I recall I think NWSL had a regear kit for it, I wrote before about it dont recall any reply, but I will re-re-ask them.
I'll snag some pics of the module which is the NKP crossing and interchange at Carrol. It will take a sequence of 3 modules to work it all, but the base part is semi-finished IE trackwork, hand laid. I will have to hand make all pole supports, catenary and everything else.
I couldnt use commercial turnouts because theres so much to fit in an area trying to retro commercial stuff is harder than making it fresh. The crossing is hand built, but I may replace it with a commercial. I started it years ago, but now I am back and about ready to push on.
I can't model the shops complete, but I am thinking a flat relief backdrop edge on the module.
I finally have had this engine running on my test loops on my newly created modules, on 24 inch radius. It can take this radius..barely! Seriously lubing the drive train and fixing my extra power pickup that plopped off, (making it an all wheel pickup - minus the pilot trucks) its a reasonable runner. I found one of the drive wheel gears is stripped, but the worm is OK, so if I get brave, I might fix that, but actually if I do that it would be a full re-gear work.
The engine demands smooth trackwork as its drivetrain is rigid and very little up/down playtime in its workings. Its a noisy beast because of the gear transfer. I doubt I would run this engine a whole lot because of the motor/gear issues, but I would run it on demand, I have the 700 class engines to do my petty switching work, when I am ready to do a bighaul, here comes the Joe!
When the time comes I will finish its paint job, somehow maybe get DCC in, headlights, any other lights and if an interior will fit.
So far, fine enough despite the little issues.