I picked this up at a train show for $40. It runs and has Kadees installed. My question is about the shaft drive. It seems to work most of the time going forward but it doesn't want to work in reverse. Anyone have any tips on tuning one of these? Also, that is some ME code 70 HOn3 track I had available. Does anyone have any experience running these on code 55? Thanks, Andy Tetsu Uma
Hi Andy As you may know, the line shaft on the MDC is purely cosmetic and not needed to actually propel the engine. It sounds like the line shafts gears (4 of them) are not contacting the gear in the wheel(s) Now it's common practice for modelers to grind away 3 of the 4 line shaft gears to improve performance, it's much easier to get one gear "in time" than it is all 4 at once. I suspect that this model has been modified in this way, so look closely at the line shaft/wheel gears and determine if the gear is properly meshing. These are know to flex a bit so maybe when you go from forward to reverse, the flex is bad enough to cause the line shaft gear to lose contact with the wheel gear. Usually moving the line shaft gear on the line shaft will reduce the clearance so it stays in contact at all times. Remove your trucks (they simple pull away from the frame, be careful not to lose your drive lines) and inspect them, chances are you will need to make a small tweak. If you notice, this picture is of my front truck, both line shaft gears have been modified so they don't mesh. Here is a photo of the rear truck, the front axle is the gear that meshes, and cause my line shaft and engine to rotate. The truck side frames that hold the line shaft just snap on, make sure these are on the truck completely and not pushed away if you will. Good Luck
I can see what you are talking about as it looks like a couple of the gears were left off this one. I will watch the gear action (not the drive line) to see where it might be binding up or if the gear interface needs to be adjusted. ?
No worries, I was a bit ¤¤¤¤¤y for reasons unrelated to you and this forum, I had no reason to take it out on you, my apologies. Good luck with your MDC, once you get them running well there are wonderful engines. :thumbs_up:
This one seems to run well even though I know it needs to be lubricated. (Do you have any tips on that? I usually use LaBelle #2 for larger locomotives but should I use that and if so what parts usually get it?) The gear action is aesthetic but in this scale, it is part of the character expected of a Shay. Overall, not bad for a $40 train show find IMHO. Andy Tetsu Uma
Pop off the cab and tender and lub the gear on the end of the motor shaft, (in the below picture I'm running the motor to break in the new NWSL gears on the bullgear assembly) A couple of drops will go along way. The pop the cover off of each truck and that will expose the worms gears and pinion gears on the axles. I used Labell 102
I like Labelle 108 for N & Z but 102 for brass gears (in N) and larger scales. I will try this. Andy Tetsu Uma
