Hi all,
I’ve decided to cross the border and try a bit of HO scale (still keeping my n scale stuff for now).
I purchased a proto sw9/1200 from evil bay (Conrail scheme, life-like model #21161), and await the several weeks it will take to get from USA to Australia.
I’ve heard some of these proto locos suffer from cracked gears. Is the below the replacement wheelsets I would need to get if this loco has this issue?
(Attachment Link)
Not sure if image came through so link below
https://trainworld.net.au/products/920-584408-walthers-proto-replacement-geared-driver-assembly-diesel-wheelset-pkg2-for-early-proto-2000r-bl-fa-gp7-9-18-20-30-60-proto-1000tm-f3-rs2-rsc2
Cheers
Allan
Those wheelsets won't fit the SW9/1200; From my experience, those models don't suffer cracked axle issues. The drivetrain is not of the same construction as their effected models (the SW's are a bit nicer drivetrain wise).
The cracked axle models are ones equipped with what is basically a clone of the Athearn blue box drivetrain; And from my personal experience, having a very extensive HO collection I'm trying to divest of, I've found EVERY example of an effected model has suffered the cracked gear problem. Proto GP's and FA's in my case.
A much more cost effective solution to fix them is just to buy replacement gears... You can still get them from Athearn, (P/N 60024, pack of 6), and its a much cheaper repair. The existing wheels simply pull out of the faulty proto gears, and you just press them into the replacement gears along with the bronze bearing.
The models are still decent, and run well enough (even though the drivetrain is a clone it was manufactured with better tolerances, and used proper wiring rather then crappy contact strips so they run better then blue box Athearn does typically) so they're worth a little effort if you get them for the right price.
