Recent content by Joe Daddy

GREAT THREAD Wombat and Flyboy have shared some keen insights into the not so simple task of laying code 83 track. Agree wholeheartedly with Wombat on choosing one brand of track and using it exclusively. Here is a picture of the rail height mismatch Wombat referred to. Flyboy, Atlas has...

This is a realistic looking scene.

Looking through the pictures once again, I am reminded how much I grew to dislike this plan. Spaghetti is certainly the right word. However I learned a lot about what not to do and thnk the experience with the Central Midland was worth the year of my life. My railroad rather looks finished...

Parts in stock says Athearn. Carey, thanks for your response. The new revised and 'improved' axles and gears do not seem to crack, they 'spinout'. Also, the new setup is an outside frame so the glue has no opportunity to foul the bearing surfaces. I've had 3 locos fail with the new...

JWB, Genesis it is, sorry for the omission. As you can see above, I did find the pn, however a quick Google was not productive. Here is a link to the actual part number on the Athearn website, Talk about round about way to find it though...

The old style wheels use Square collars on the shaft for conducting power, the new style use an outside the truck frame bearing retainers that pick up current off the pins on the hubs of the wheel themselves. http://www.athearn.com/ProdInfo/Files/Genesis_F_Series_Guide.pdf Joe Baldwin

JWB, Thanks for your response. I have a set of those gears listed in my parts box, they are the old style gears. Then new style (F7) are very different looking, with a thinner gear profile and much smaller holes in the shaft. Writing this I wonder if they have a parts listing in the 'manual'...

Thanks for your response, Andy. It may sound like electrical problems but they are pretty easy to sort out. The wheel/gear problems are more insidious. Like I said, the new failure mode for the gears is not to crack but slip or spin-out making no noise what ever. Joe

I think you are correct. BTW, the new axle designs by BLI, Atlas and Athearn are much smaller axle shaft and the gears don't split or crack (None of mine have yet) like the old larger shaft gears did, but they do slip/spin-out. Therefore the failures have no audible symptoms. Age and use...

The symptom - a Diesel Locomotive hesitates, stops, then jerks ahead, momentarily shorts, or in extreme cases will not move at all. On Athearn, Atlas, BLI perhaps all HO diesel locos I find they use a split Drive Axle with a gear in the middle to hold the two axle halves in gauge and transmit...

An old thread but a relevant topic. I have been analyzing the actual differences between the Paragon/QSI and Paragon2 decoders. QSI has Disconnect, Standby and Shutdown controlled by F6 & F9 in neutral (zero speed) Paragon2 has no such feature but does have a ShutDown and Startup toggled by...

High Trussrod, Thank you for your kind words about my old layout benchwork. Since you mentioned Allen, perhaps your message was intended for another? Have a great day. Joe Baldwin

http://www.3000toys.com/catalog/products.aspx?type=farm_toys&scale=1/87 Walthers.com Joe

Latest work on the layout shows some progress over the holidays.

Latest work on the layout shows some progress over the holidays.