Ernst re-gear sets

[jpec]

I'm drifting back towards HO after several decades...I have a few old Athearn blue box locos and I remember the Ernst re-gear sets that used be around.  I see the robber barons on eBay selling them at highly inflated prices;  anyone know of a reasonably priced source. Hobbylinc and Walthers have them on their site but they're not available...

Thanks,

Jeff

[glakedylan]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Scale-Ernst-Super-Gearing-Re-Gear-Set-for-Athearn-6-AXLE-Diesels/331516734919?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30084%26meid%3Dd19b9bf540f242c79f217ac8ab042d00%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D231517868819&rt=nc

doesn't seem outrageously priced as some would be?
no not mine or any connection to the seller
just searched some to lend a hand to you and answer your question

sincerely
Gary

[jpec]

Thanks for the help...unfortunately I need the 4 axle version.

Jeff

[glakedylan]

sorry, did not catch the 4-wheel piece of info
will keep looking as able
hope you find these for a good cost
sincerely--
Gary

[Spikre]

 
  Earnst re-gear kits are a product of the late 70s/early 80s.
  this is May 2015,there are many better off the shelf options
  for better running locos today.
   try a Proto Alco S-1 or even a Kato SD40.
  or really get wild and find,then build a Hobbytown of Boston
  chassis that pre-dated Earnst gear sets by at least 30 years,
  and since the introduction of Flywheels in the late 50s are
  some of the best running DCC Unfriendly Chassis's one can
  find in HO at least.
   but maybe You just need to get it out of yer system ?
     Spikre
     
 

[coosvalley]

There are a great way to get Athearn Blue box locos to run smooth and with excellent slow speed capabilities, whether this is the 80's or 2015, the results will be the same....the NOISE of the loco, however, will increase dramatically, which could probably be minimized with a nice can motor.......... and you can forget MU-ing them with anything but other ones that have had the mod done...they become too slow!

[Spikre]

 
  Coosvalley,
    if one would put a Quality Can motor into any BB chassis sold after 1980,
  the need for Earnst Gears is over ridden.
   for even more useless fun,find a Hieden Transmission from the same 80s
  time period.
   another NOT needed thingy with 99% of current Quality locos.
   both the Earnst and Hiedens are interesting Curios however,but still a
  Hobbytown Switcher chassis under the BB SW7 shell will blow both off.
   edit-- a good BB loco upgrade is to install 40" Nickel Silver wheels,JayBee
            are favored here,but NWSL may be the only producer now. or borrow
           trucks from a current RTR loco.
         but be warned,there is no real Cheap Performance Up-Grades,they either
         take Money,or plenty of yer Time.
   edit#-2- feel that spending more than $5.00 a set for any Earnst or Hieden
               Transmission is way Too much !!
        Spikre
         

[mcjaco]

I'd skip the Ernst gears too.  I did one unit with them, for switching, and the noise from the unit was exponential.  To the point where I went back and put the old Athearn gears back in. 

The slow speed was excellent, but the noise, and effort to change out the gears wasn't.  IIRC, the directions actually were incorrect and the drawing showed a gear one way when it was supposed to be the other. 

[coosvalley]

  Coosvalley,
    if one would put a Quality Can motor into any BB chassis sold after 1980,
  the need for Earnst Gears is over ridden.
   for even more useless fun,find a Hieden Transmission from the same 80s
  time period.
   another NOT needed thingy with 99% of current Quality locos.
   both the Earnst and Hiedens are interesting Curios however,but still a
  Hobbytown Switcher chassis under the BB SW7 shell will blow both off.
   edit-- a good BB loco upgrade is to install 40" Nickel Silver wheels,JayBee
            are favored here,but NWSL may be the only producer now. or borrow
           trucks from a current RTR loco.
         but be warned,there is no real Cheap Performance Up-Grades,they either
         take Money,or plenty of yer Time.
   edit#-2- feel that spending more than $5.00 a set for any Earnst or Hieden
               Transmission is way Too much !!
        Spikre
         

I agree with you, but your first suggestion of "get a different loco" seemed a bit over the top, since he said he has the Blue Box loco already that he's looking to upgrade......I am also of the opinion a PPW motor and some NWSL wheels should do the trick, however...
The noise of the re-gear sets is overwhelming, but most of that noise was the old Blue box motor, not so much the gears....I am curious how quiet they would be without that old motor.....

[Spikre]

 
   Coosvalley,
    was suggesting to get a Current loco to have a Target to shoot for
   with rebuilding the BB loco.
   the Proto Power West chassis is also a good Base to start with.
   think the Proto Alco S-1/3 series are great runners and are available
   at reasonable prices at shows.
   maybe the Kato SD40 is too large ?
  but the current run of GP35s is out,they are fine runners.
  an older Atlas/Kato or Stewart/Kato are also good,but may need a new
  motor if really run a lot.
    BB Chassis Tips:
     Hard Wire the Motor to the Trucks.
    give the Loco at least a 100 Hour Break In Run.
   if the Loco has Sintered wheels,replace with Nickle Silver.
   slightly cut the Brush Spring down,there is too much force
   on the Armature with stock spring and brushes.
  lube all metal bearings.
  remove Glop from gears if needed.
   then see how it runs next to a current  high quality loco.
       Spikre