Split gears

[hexagon789]

Looking for some thoughts on buying items advertised as having a split gear.

I've recently seen an item on eBay ehuch I've been after for sometime now, the price is pretty decent IMO and while the seller advertises it as a runner, there is a note saying 'noisy runner due to split gear'.

Now I have some idea of what that entails, where a toothed motor gear is essentially cracked due to poor manufacture or even simply due to the force fit method used to install on the drive axle.

My concern is whether this split gear is likely to cause any significant issues beyond noisy running, if it did deteriorate to the point that the train would no longer run, do any models shops still do these sort of repairs?

Thanks for any thoughts or advice that ca be given.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Depends what you have in mind. If it's a Hornby item, Peters Spares (on the web and a real shop) are a good source for parts, although even they have run out of certain things related to that Maz-zac rot business. Bought a few spares just in case a while ago for loco's I have, just in case they develop problems in the future.

 

[hexagon789]

Depends what you have in mind. If it's a Hornby item, Peters Spares (on the web and a real shop) are a good source for parts, although even they have run out of certain things related to that Maz-zac rot business. Bought a few spares just in case a while ago for loco's I have, just in case they develop problems in the future.

It's Bachmann, about 20 years old and presumably suffers from their pre-2016 Nylon gears issue.

Presumably as one of the larger manufacturers, like Hornby, spares can be found from some suppliers?

 

[fourtytwo]

I have repaired a few of these in OO notably Bachmann split chassis steam. In there case it's not just the gear but the entire axle, hence when it is split the wheels are floppy and do not hold gauge causing derailments at points etc. My advice, nake sure you can get the spares from peters spares BEFORE you buy the item on Ebay. Also beware parts from other sources claiming 3D printing, in my case they were hopeless and did not fit.

 

[hexagon789]

I have repaired a few of these in OO notably Bachmann split chassis steam. In there case it's not just the gear but the entire axle, hence when it is split the wheels are floppy and do not hold gauge causing derailments at points etc. My advice, nake sure you can get the spares from peters spares BEFORE you buy the item on Ebay. Also beware parts from other sources claiming 3D printing, in my case they were hopeless and did not fit.

Thank you, that's helpful advice.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I never had any dealings with Bachmann spares, although I believe the company does have a 'spares' department. You'd have to check their website. The drive cog problem that afflicted some of Hornby locos a while back (SR WC/BB's etc) in my experience, being on the centre driving axle, resulted in the said (centre) pair of driving wheels sort of rocking (very slightly) forward and backwards as dictated by the connecting rods (as if the centre axle was distorted), but the result was jerky running and the entire loco body having a slightly side to side rocking motion, most noticeable at the front and rear of the loco itself (not the tender obviously). Very annoying as it ruined what was otherwise a very fine looking loco!

 

[fourtytwo]

I never had any dealings with Bachmann spares

Ahh yes I am sorry I should have mentioned that in my original reply, I found a phone number for them somewhere and they were very helpful indeed, charging just a moderate sum for the required spares BUT that was maybe 2 years ago.