I'm new and need some help from others. I have a American Stean Engine n scale that came with a Trim a Tree set. It seems that the drive shaft ( not sure the correct name) that connects the tender with the engine is gone. Does anyone aout there know where I can get one? Bachman said they don't make any parts for it anymore.
Go look in the Parts page. Might be something there.
Take time to look through the Bachmann site. There is an N Scale forum also. Many new people jump right into the General forum.
Rich
The use of rubber tubing as a driveshaft is an old trick used by the brass crowd. I don't know if it will work for that, but its worth a checking into. Lengths can have solid inserts added to make them more ridged.
The default "standard" for rubber tube replacement has been model airplane fuel line. It is more resistant to drying out, and it comes in several diameters so you can tailor it to your particular drive setup.
I take it we are talking clear vs black tubing? Other than black drying out, is there any difference in how each will work?
You can see a picture of the part at:
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_70_79&products_id=217 (http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_70_79&products_id=217)
Click on the picture to enlarge it to actual size.
You can use a piece of sprue from a model kit to make the shaft portion. Then drill small holes through, and glue cross pieces in each end. The holes should be square to the shaft, but don't need to align exactly with each other.
I've done this many times for the HO version of the 4-4-0 tender drive loco.
Len
He said engine to tender. That would be the drawbar. And piece of plastic with holes drilled in it will work
Hi Broncosfan,
I haven't had mine out for almost a year.
If yours is like the one linked to, then I agree with Les.
I would whittle one down from a piece of sprue.
There have been several revisions to this lokie.
Drive shafts have changed.
If you have an early one ( I think you do), look to the auction sites and purchase a donor lokie.
If yours is like in the link, call Bachmann they may have it, although it says out of stock.
I would not consider fuel line for this one.
Good luck
Quote from: ChrisS on November 14, 2013, 07:48:56 PM
He said engine to tender. That would be the drawbar. And piece of plastic with holes drilled in it will work
The HO and N scale 4-4-0 both have a draw bar and drive shaft. More often than not, the drive shaft can fall out when handled by hand. The draw bar has a screw to hold the draw bar in place on the loco and the tender.
RIch
Good point Rich if it is in fact the drawbar it's an easier fix.
But we are still guessing... Is it the part that connects through the tender (motor to wormshaft), Or under it, (Tender to lokie)?
Pin on lokie fits into slot on tender, no drawbar so to speak.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/11751.pdf
Quote from: James in FL on November 14, 2013, 08:54:41 PM
Good point Rich if it is in fact the drawbar it's an easier fix.
But we are still guessing... Is it the part that connects through the tender (motor to wormshaft), Or under it, (Tender to lokie)?
Pin on lokie fits into slot on tender, no drawbar so to speak.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/11751.pdf
Yeah, I should have looked at the diagram page first. My bad. Made an assumption.
The N scale does NOT have a draw bar. From some of the searching, it looks like Bachmann had two different size drive shafts.
The drive shaft comes straight out the front of the tender, just like the HO scale version.
Rich
Thanks for all of the help! I going to see what I can do to make one. It would be alittle easier if it weren't so small. Thanks again for the help!
Let us know how you do it, what works, and what doesn't work, are both valuable tid bits.
(Curious, It is the driveshaft, not the draw bar correct?)
Quote from: GG1onFordsDTandI on November 15, 2013, 07:33:38 PM
Let us know how you do it, what works, and what doesn't work, are both valuable tid bits.
(Curious, It is the driveshaft, not the draw bar correct?)
Again, go look at the N scale diagram. Very clear.
Rich
Its the driveshaft. Still working on it. Made two didfferent ones today didn't work. Haven't found the best material yet but still working on it. The ones that I did make weren't small enough to have some flexibility they did turn but one twisted and the other wouldn't stay in place. I have made one for a ho scale years ago but since this one is so small not sure if I will be able to do it. Only time and testing will tell.
Have you tried two sections of tube on the ends of a driveshaft as well as solid tube with solid insert to prevent collapse as it twists a bit? Heat can often be used to shrink the ID opening of tubing. Since its so small, maybe heat shrink tube over a solid shaft?
Quote from: jbrock27 on November 14, 2013, 01:59:14 PM
I take it we are talking clear vs black tubing? Other than black drying out, is there any difference in how each will work?
Black tube is often thicker and less prone to collapse when twisting than the clear fuel lines. But the thickness may be an issue with n-scale. The N stuff is not the easiest to work on due to size.
Ahh, thank you for the response and clarification GG1!
Would really small vacuum tubing for automotive uses work?
How about small diameter Evergreen styrene tubing?
You either need to start with a larger diameter shaft, then whittle it down to leave a ball on the end. Or, leave the shaft the diameter of the ball end and put a 'V' groove around both ends where it would hit the loco and tender couplings on curves.
Len
Quote from: jbrock27 on November 16, 2013, 07:21:36 AM
Ahh, thank you for the response and clarification GG1!
Would really small vacuum tubing for automotive uses work?
How about small diameter Evergreen styrene tubing?
I don't know how well the hard fuel injection vacuum tube would close around a shaft. Used with a "roll pin" to hold it may work, but once again the shaft size may make this implausible.
The black windshield wiper rubber tube is what I saw first, many years ago on Brass Og. Recently saw some HO bashes, and an Og operating semi truck accessary bashed to travel under its own power, these used fuel tubing, one with tiny blue tube for a weed wacker, had a shaft inside it. If it can move the big stuff.........
Lens ideas, the ball I like. Also for small tubing, a short ring of heat shrink tube over the end, can serve as a surprisingly effective hose clamp. The ones on old VW washer buttons held 28psi.
Hi I'm new and also seeking assistance.
I have an American HO 4-4-0 and it came with two drives. I've seen the N gauge Bachmann Store PDF but that didn't help.
The long shaft doesn't work well but before ordering a new one, is there anything else I could check?
(photos are on another website, sorry) http://www.wheelsonsteel.com.au/showthread.php?tid=6705
Syl-
I don't know what you mean by two drives, even though I read the term twice on your two posts.
Please explain what you mean, but only once. It isn't helpful to do multiple posts; all they do is
annoy the people you are asking for help.
-- D