Hey guys I just completed a new after market item for the older AHM/Rivarossi steamers. The factory plastic drive shafts inside the loco's where known to twist off and even spin out the fitting to which they were made to fit to the metal worm gear shafts. Well I have had both those problems with my older AHM/Rivarossi loco's and came up with a new shaft. Made from metal tubing to custom fit each loco's different shafts.... I have limited quanities of this replacement part that I've custom made to fit the AHM/Rivarossi loco's. If anyone is interested in any, please e-mail me at: yellowstone10@hotmail.com Let me know if anyone wants any and for what loco and a quantity... [ 13 March 2002, 08:04: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
I will be recommending to Rivarossi and Jim Walthers of Walthers, that you be appointed the new authorized repair vendor in the US.
Chuck, Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. I have messed with the older AHM/Rivarossi locomotives for years trying to better them to todays standards so they are able to be run with the newer Model Expo and other updated loco's. I know their litterally tons and tons of people that have the older ones and can't not run them for one reason or another and I'm taking it apon myself to make those old ones able to be on who evers roster. I haul 35 to 45 car trains with a simple old AHM Y6b that I have customized into a B&O EL-5. And being its old and the original motor gone and replaced by a better one it runs like the newer Model Expo EL-5 that was sold in 1998 when it was first retooled. And here to see its an old one from the days of AHM. I had those inside the boiler drive shafts, they're plastic and wear on them turns out to ruin them after so long. I got tired of twisting them off, and spinning the fitting out of the ends of them so I got to making some of my own to see if it works and by god I could not have done any better...Their is no slop from end to end, and no wobble at all! I had to leave some slop in it for the joint where the worm shaft meets the drive shaft itself for articulating reasons, but its still a snug fit and has no drag! I've tested this idea and its preformed as well as the plastic ones did, but will not break or twist off or spin out the fitting on the end like the plastic ones did. I bought alot of those plastic ones for replacement and it gets litterally rediculous! And then if you can find them. I bought out a place that a bunch and well they were not worth much being they have broken after awhile. So It got me to think of a way to make my own design for the purpose of being life time quallity. So after about 6 months testing here they are... the new AHM style replacemtn drive shafts....
John, you're the man with the answers and I never hesitate to direct others modelers to your address.
THANKS Chuck! And speaking and thinking of our knowledge on eachother... I may have a solution to your Y6b needs! I got a set of wheels from a hobby shop a few miles away that are for the older AHM/Rivarossi Y6b and I honestly believe they will fit your locomotive! Drop me an e-mail on it if it may interest you...
John, I sold the Mallet but again thanks for the offer. Should I get active in steam again, it would be the Allegheny, but now it's out of budget.
