I.P. Engineering gear sets

[Steven.T]

Thanks again for all the info Graeme! I will look into it all and see what I can come up with

this seems to be a recurring problem, you would have thought IP would have realised the gears aren't much cop.

I know, so if it's happened to me twice, Pendo Pilot quite a few times, I'd hate to add up all the failures!
To be honest, I'd rather pay an extra £20, and have a sturdy metal gear box and gears. The plastic housing supplied now is a bit more than naff!
Cheers,
Ste

[GTB]

Thanks again for all the info Graeme! I will look into it all and see what I can come up with  :lol:

After I wrote that last night, it occurs to me that one of the US made NWSL gearbox range would do the job.

http://www.nwsl.com/gearboxes-kits/ho-o ... arbox-kits

The standard IP motor is about the same power as an old Tri-ang motor, so the 28:1 0.3mod gearboxes intended for HO scale would be up to the job for the small IP locos and the Ezee range.

The larger metal IP locos are a lot heavier I gather, so the 0.4mod 14:1 gearboxes for S scale could be a better choice.

I've used NWSL gearboxes in large HO locos without problems. They have a strong injection moulded gearbox with steel worms, brass gears and sintered bearings.

Regards,
Graeme

[Marquis DeCarabas]

The gears are 0.5mod,

Hmm. Presumably these are moulded gears rather than being gashed and hobbed?

[Steven.T]

I've been speaking to one of my supervisors at work today, and he reckons that the gear is wrong for use with a worm.
The worm gear is set at angles, as are all worms. However the other gear (what my supervisor called the crown wheel) does not have the teeth set at the same angle as the worm, they are infact just straight.
He reckons that this is what will be causing the wear, as the teeth won't be meshing properly and wearing the gears...

I've had a look at worm gears on the internet and all of them have the teeth set at the same angle as the worm, so maybe this is where the problem is?
Cheers,
Ste

[DLRdan]

I belive your supervisor is right as the actuall contact area between the worm and a straight cut gear is very small, which generates a lot of pressure. The other type of gear, i think is called helical cut. With the teeth being at an angle there is a far larger surface for the worm to push against.

[GTB]

Hmm. Presumably these are moulded gears rather than being gashed and hobbed?

Got it in one....

OK for light duty in things like the Ezee railcars, if meshed adequately, but not what I'd use for really heavy work.

Regards,
Graeme

[GTB]

I've been speaking to one of my supervisors at work today, and he reckons that the gear is wrong for use with a worm.

He's right, a worm wheel has teeth cut at the same pressure angle as the worm teeth and the really heavy duty ones are cut so they partly wrap around the worm. As well as angled teeth, the tops of the teeth are curved.

The straight cut pinions IP supply are adequate for light duty, but not heavy work.

Crown wheels aren't usually used with worms, but provide a right angle drive when driven by a pinion gear. Slot cars like Scalextric usually use a crown and pinion drive, as they don't want the high reductions we need for loco work.

Regards,
Graeme

[Steven.T]

Well after Speaking to Ivan the other day, I have received the third set of gears (free of charge this time!). As the next running day at my club is next weekend, I will try and get it running again for then.

Whilst on the phone to Ivan, he recommended I use Steam Oil to lubricate the gears before every run, so this time, I know a few guys with plenty of steam oil, and will see if this helps any better!

If it doesn't work, or even if it does work, I'm tempted to buy an Essel Chassis...