| Author |
Message |
    
Ben Adams
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2001 - 07:59 pm: | |
Douglas,
Have Athearn #90101 HiF rubber drive belts - 48 for $1.34. Price includes postage.
J. B. |
Douglas Fleshman (Dougf)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2001 - 10:22 am: | |
You do have to watch the strength of the rubber bands in the Athearn drive. I tried to substitute generic bands but found they were either loose and slipped or were so strong that they kept the trucks from swiveling freely so I have gone back to the Athearn ones which can still be ordered (Walthers #140-90101,$3.60 for 24 of them). Be careful when installing them that you get them in the right orientation or the unit will run backwards. I still operate some of these units on our club modular layout (railsonwheels.com). My units have the Pittman reduction drives in them and run nicely. It seems to me that when the units are run on a regular basis that the belts lasted longer than they do in storage. The belts tend to stick to the axle roller if not operated.
Incidently, Globe was gone by the time the HiF drive came along.
Lindsay made a variety of drive units. Most of the units that contained drive belts, that I have seen, used a spring belt rather than a rubber band. Many manufactures in the 50's used spring belt drives including Varney. Maybe this is the reason you went thru so many bands. I have one still in the box, unused, but I can't locate it quickly to check my memory.
Is anyone besides me still using the Athearn gear drive that predated the HiF rubber band drive? Where are you getting motor brushes? |
Gregg Mahlkov (Thirdrail)
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 09:51 pm: | |
Denis, I think an "O" ring would be too stiff. If I recall the Athearn "rubber band drive" the trucks had to swivel while the drive shaft remained parallel to the rails. The Lindsay "ghost" was intended to power a boxcar and had one geared axle with a pulley. A small rubber band connected the other axle of the truck, which also had a pulley. I used the drive in an interurban car (a Walthers Milwaukee Electric kit). |
Denis Long
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 12:07 pm: | |
Thanks for the response Gregg.
It just occurred to me that a neoprene "O" ring might be an excellent solution, and should last forever. I would think one with a smaller cross section, and flexible. Some "O" rings are very stiff. What do you think? Failing that, I would resort to office supply rubber bands. I just don't feel these bands store well.
Speaking of Lindsay, I have a die cast, brass, GP7, made by Lawrence Lines. I believe it has the word, Lindsay, on the motor, or underside of the shell. This loco uses a gear drive. |
Gregg Mahlkov (Thirdrail)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 08:22 pm: | |
You might try Office Depot, Office Max, or Staples. Large office supply stores often have boxes or bags of all one size rubber bands. Take one of the drive bands along to compare. I once had a Lindsay "Ghost' that ate rubber bands. As a matter of fact, I still have it, but haven't run it in 30 years. |
Denis Long
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 04:18 pm: | |
Does anyone know of a source for, and a material to use, in the correct size, to replace the ordinary rubber bands required on the old Athearn/Globe engines. I have several of these engines, and I live in a very dry climate. Rubber bands don't last long.
Denis Long |
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Model Railroading 