For a long time LifeLike offered free wheel replacements when the split axle problem because known. Walthers continued that practice when they acquired LifeLike but now that the engines with the problem are decades and decades old, you have to buy then. Walthers was not the only source -- the original LifeLike manufacturer essentially made the drive gear a clone of the old Athearn so in many cases as Tom points out above Athearn parts were also a drop in replacement. The "good" news is that Walthers often has those wheel sets on sale in their monthly flyer.
There was another problem with the early LifeLike Proto2000 engines and that was excessive grease and the use of a grease that became rock hard over time. Many purchasers of LifeLike Proto2000s, new or used, that let them sit on the shelf before finally running them burned out the motors because they didn't realize that the gear train was frozen shut with rock hard grease. So carefully remove the plastic gear cover, as Tom says, make sure you clean out the old excessive brown grease, and regrease lightly. If the engine then "clicks" when you run it you've got the split gear problem.
For all these problems it is almost impossible to now describe to people how exciting the introduction of the Proto2000 series was at the time. And most shocking of all was not just the quality of the trains, but the source: LifeLike?! The paper mache tunnel people?
Dave Nelson
Okay thanks for the reply helful info,Are there any photos of these engines with the wheel cover off? So I can see how they look like I will not get my engine till the? 26th of this month.
Split gears were an issue with some early Proto 2000 locomotives. Walthers does make replacement gears for them. Athearn gears also fit them. It's a very simple swap out. Just be careful when removing the plastic gear cover on the trucks.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Hello all I bought the Proto 2000 Series E8A engine from Ebay,A friend of mine said the gear wheels are defective & they will splt apart. Has anyone here heard of this issue & my friend told me to replace them with Walther's. Diesel replacement wheels I looked them up,They look just like Athearn metal wheels please let me know Thank You.