While temperature does indeed affect size of metal parts, my gut feel is that the difference here is a lot greater than such a temperature difference could deal with. But I didn't even think of trying it.....
Two of my three Shays were also essentially NIB, too, with minimal running time. I got them at an estate sale. You may find those old gears already split out of the box. I hope not, though, so you can enjoy a little running time before they fail.
You can set the metal gears on the burner of a coffee maker for 30 seconds or so then install on shaft with your pliers, make sure you have a little back-lash on the gears by moving gears slightly on the shaft to increase or decrease endplay.
Do you still live in the Houston area? I live close to Beaumont and I'm currently building a 3x12 modular logging switchback for our club's modular railroad. I'd absolutely love to be able to come view and get some inspiration from your clear lake RR as well as pick your brain for a little knowledge in modeling a logging railroad.
Yes, I am in the Houston area (Clear Lake area near NASA in SE Houston). Although I do not consider myself a great expert on logging modeling, I'm open to hosting a visit, and thanks for your interest. I'm struggling with how to send you my contact information without broadcasting it to the whole world. If it helps any, I am also on Facebook. By the way, between me and my late wife I've had 4 BMWs over the years. Three of them were 3-series wagons. Great cars! Too bad they stopped importing them or I'd probably still have one. Carl
@CarlBrainerd yes i was wondering myself how to get you my contact info, I'll try to find you on Facebook. Yea i unfortunately don't have my M3 anymore, I loved that car but being young and dumb I traded it off for something different. I've had a few different bmws since then, a few 3 series and we have an x3 now.
I feel your pain, brother. Those Bachmann Shays, Climaxes, etc. are very disappointing. I also got suckered into buying more than my fair share of HO and On30 units. My problem is that I have the geared loco monkey on my back making bad decisions. And now NWSL isn't making much in the way of replacement gears any more. Ah well. The Bachmann parts store sometimes have replacements, but I'm not so sure I want to throw more money at Bachmann for something that is likely to fail in a similar fashion. Rumor has it that the replacements are better. I'm not so sure. As you found out, if the gears themselves don't fail, there are still a number of other items made from the same plastic to fail. (couplings, joints, etc.) Thanks for the video. Always good to see updates to your layout, etc. On my next layout, I will be "borrowing" some of your benchwork construction ideas. :)
Thanks for your note. Yeah, I'm done with Bachmann, too, unless they start using metal gears, and even then I'd be wary. My next big project may be an MDC Shay with can motor replacement and NWSL replacement gears. I have all the parts on the shelf (for the last 30 years, ha!). Just a matter of getting to it. That darn geared locomotive bug bit me, too. Not an easy road......
Great video. I need to do this as well. One question - the shafts on the universal joints are also disconnecting on my shay. Doesn't supergluing them defeat the universal joint action? And once glued in place do all the truck shafts have to come out in one piece? (truck one to power, power to truck two and truck two to truck three? Thanks for posting. -Scott H
No, the universal joint function is not affected by gluing the joint "fixed" end onto the shafts. The little square rod that sticks out still articulates freely, and that is where the universal joint function happens. So the joints between trucks still operate normally, i.e. they slide in and out as needed for going around curves. Each truck can still be removed individually.
Yeah, it seems pretty likely. I have started watching eBay for anybody selling the regear kits, but so far there don't seem to be any out there for sale.
@@CarlBrainerd contact NWSL and ask if they are making more. I did last night, they said it’s being considered but no eta. If more people ask though, more likely I’d bet. They have a contact section on their website
@@tcepilotGood idea! I also sent them a note and told them every Shay Bachmann ever made probably needs this kit. I also suggested they make the hole in the gears a little larger....
Mike, no, I bought the replacement gear set some years ago, most likely on eBay. I wish I'd bought 2 or 3 sets now, but at the time I only had one Shay so one set seemed like enough. Now, like you, I cannot find any more. I check eBay every now and then but so far without any success. I'm guessing that most, if not all, of them have been installed in broken Shays by now and NWSL is no longer making them. Good luck to all of us!
@@CarlBrainerd , thanks Carl. I thought that might be the case…wishful thinking. I did send NWSL an email to see if they were going to make another run. Best wishes, Mike
Very cool layout. I love it.
Thank you to share your experience. Just now I have purchased the NWSL gears replacement for my 80 ton. Greetings from Spain 🚂
I wonder if you put the shaft in the freezer and then the metal gears in boiling water if that would help the process.
While temperature does indeed affect size of metal parts, my gut feel is that the difference here is a lot greater than such a temperature difference could deal with. But I didn't even think of trying it.....
I still have mine NIB.
I figure I will need to replace them at some point.
Two of my three Shays were also essentially NIB, too, with minimal running time. I got them at an estate sale. You may find those old gears already split out of the box. I hope not, though, so you can enjoy a little running time before they fail.
It's a Bachman that explains your problem right there
Good to see you Carl!!! Great job as usual!
You can set the metal gears on the burner of a coffee maker for 30 seconds or so then install on shaft with your pliers, make sure you have a little back-lash on the gears by moving gears slightly on the shaft to increase or decrease endplay.
Do you still live in the Houston area? I live close to Beaumont and I'm currently building a 3x12 modular logging switchback for our club's modular railroad. I'd absolutely love to be able to come view and get some inspiration from your clear lake RR as well as pick your brain for a little knowledge in modeling a logging railroad.
Yes, I am in the Houston area (Clear Lake area near NASA in SE Houston). Although I do not consider myself a great expert on logging modeling, I'm open to hosting a visit, and thanks for your interest. I'm struggling with how to send you my contact information without broadcasting it to the whole world. If it helps any, I am also on Facebook.
By the way, between me and my late wife I've had 4 BMWs over the years. Three of them were 3-series wagons. Great cars! Too bad they stopped importing them or I'd probably still have one. Carl
@CarlBrainerd yes i was wondering myself how to get you my contact info, I'll try to find you on Facebook.
Yea i unfortunately don't have my M3 anymore, I loved that car but being young and dumb I traded it off for something different. I've had a few different bmws since then, a few 3 series and we have an x3 now.
@CarlBrainerd i sent you a friend request on Facebook, the picture is me and my son standing on a handcart at the galveston railroad museum.
I feel your pain, brother. Those Bachmann Shays, Climaxes, etc. are very disappointing. I also got suckered into buying more than my fair share of HO and On30 units. My problem is that I have the geared loco monkey on my back making bad decisions. And now NWSL isn't making much in the way of replacement gears any more. Ah well. The Bachmann parts store sometimes have replacements, but I'm not so sure I want to throw more money at Bachmann for something that is likely to fail in a similar fashion. Rumor has it that the replacements are better. I'm not so sure. As you found out, if the gears themselves don't fail, there are still a number of other items made from the same plastic to fail. (couplings, joints, etc.) Thanks for the video. Always good to see updates to your layout, etc. On my next layout, I will be "borrowing" some of your benchwork construction ideas. :)
Thanks for your note. Yeah, I'm done with Bachmann, too, unless they start using metal gears, and even then I'd be wary. My next big project may be an MDC Shay with can motor replacement and NWSL replacement gears. I have all the parts on the shelf (for the last 30 years, ha!). Just a matter of getting to it. That darn geared locomotive bug bit me, too. Not an easy road......
Great video. I need to do this as well. One question - the shafts on the universal joints are also disconnecting on my shay. Doesn't supergluing them defeat the universal joint action? And once glued in place do all the truck shafts have to come out in one piece? (truck one to power, power to truck two and truck two to truck three? Thanks for posting. -Scott H
No, the universal joint function is not affected by gluing the joint "fixed" end onto the shafts. The little square rod that sticks out still articulates freely, and that is where the universal joint function happens. So the joints between trucks still operate normally, i.e. they slide in and out as needed for going around curves. Each truck can still be removed individually.
Geat! Appreciate the quick response! Scott H.
Can’t find the gears in stock. My shay will arrive Friday. Don’t know if it needs gears or not yet. I’m sure it will
Yeah, it seems pretty likely. I have started watching eBay for anybody selling the regear kits, but so far there don't seem to be any out there for sale.
@@CarlBrainerd contact NWSL and ask if they are making more. I did last night, they said it’s being considered but no eta. If more people ask though, more likely I’d bet. They have a contact section on their website
@@tcepilotGood idea! I also sent them a note and told them every Shay Bachmann ever made probably needs this kit. I also suggested they make the hole in the gears a little larger....
Carl, did you guys those Steel Gears recently? I’ve got 4 Shay’s, and want to replace the gears, but haven’t been able to find them. Mike
Mike, no, I bought the replacement gear set some years ago, most likely on eBay. I wish I'd bought 2 or 3 sets now, but at the time I only had one Shay so one set seemed like enough. Now, like you, I cannot find any more. I check eBay every now and then but so far without any success. I'm guessing that most, if not all, of them have been installed in broken Shays by now and NWSL is no longer making them. Good luck to all of us!
@@CarlBrainerd , thanks Carl. I thought that might be the case…wishful thinking. I did send NWSL an email to see if they were going to make another run. Best wishes, Mike
@@CarlBrainerd Carl, I did reach out to NWSL yesterday, and got a reply back…They said the Shay Gears should be available in 3-4 weeks…YEA!
@@michaell.maloney4026 Good news! There must be a lot of pent-up demand out there. I'll be watching!