Greetings!! Does anyone know of someone who can "re-align" the wheels on a steam engine? I got a "good deal" on a Kalamazoo set, then I found out why!! HELP!!
THANX!!
Ernie
Hendersonville, NC
Google "quartering drivers" There is lots of good information on the web. If the locomotive has the motor geared to one axle and the rest are driven by side rods, the drivers MUST be quartered for the locomotive to run properly. If the motor is geared to all the axles and the side rods have slots, then quartering can be approximate and the locomotive will still run well.
With most steam locomotives it is possible to remove the side rods from the wheels and then remove the axles c/w wheels from the locomotive. This allows you to quarter the wheels one axle at a time on a quartering jig. If you have some scraps of styrene plastic around, you can make your own quartering jig that will do the job.
Contact the HO scale Apple Valley Model Railroad Club. They still using the old depot at 7th Ave and Maple St?
Some of the members may be able to help you with your large-scale locomotive or know someone locally who can help you.