The latest fun....crank pin failure on PPS drivers

[Spule 4]

If you all remember a while back, my PPS drivers went out of quater on the rear axle. A bit of loctite and all is OK now.

Today, JanMod had a bit of a lope when running. Aftwerards while wiping down and checking things, I noticed one of the front crank pins had worked itself loose!

Unfortunately, it appears that this may have been a problem for a while, the pin won't even press fit back into the driver, it is VERY loose!

I am going to try scoring the pin a bit, getting everything clean and some more loctite, but so far these aftermarket drivers have given me as many fits as the originals on the loco!

[Chris Cairns]

Would this have happened to the same side of the loco as your previous failure with the trailing axle by any chance?

Chris Cairns.

[Spule 4]

You know, I don't know Chris as I have had it apart a few times since then.

I do remember one pin was bent when I got them (had to "true" it with a pair of pliars, they were sent in an envelope ) and then the second wheel came loose once I first installed them.

Not sure if that was the pin that came loose, and with it being 10:50 at night and -4C outside, it can wait until tomorrow.

[Chris Cairns]

I was wondering if you had a problem with one of your cylinders, but sounds like the wheels suffered damage whilst being sent in an envelope!!

Chris Cairns.

[Spule 4]

The post-mortem today was interesting.

If I put the pin back in the wheel, it sticks out the back about 1mm. And will "wiggle" somewhat in the wheel. So my bet is this had worn for about an hour or two of running. There were traces of sealer/glue on the pin.

I am not sure if y best bet will be to try and re-glue it, or just order another set from Roy Wood. Maybe spring for the spoked ones this go-round?

[Chris Cairns]

I do not have any PPS plain steel wheels but they look very similar to the later IP Eng plain steel wheels (not the earlier ones with the holed disks), and those wheels were then copied by Dream Steam although the cut out area inside the rims is a slightly different size.

I would try some Araldite Rapid Steel to refit the pin, as it is waterproof, and oil & chemical resistant.

On my 2 sets of Dream Steam wheels (1st set is I think the old IP Eng stock that Alan bought out) I had to file the machined end of these pins flat against the back of the wheels to stop any interference with the chassis frames.

Chris Cairns.

[Spule 4]

Thanks Chris-

I have some US industrial expoxy, but I have my doubts due to the sheer slop in the thing.

More to report later, but I am sure replacement "replacement" drivers are in order.

[Spule 4]

Good news...a dab of epoxy (and then going away for the week) seems to have done the trick.

I ran the locomotive today for about an hour and it seems to be holding, but I still consider this to just be a temporary measure.

Thanks for the tip Chris.

[Chris Cairns]

Glad to hear your epoxy worked and you are now back in steam.

If I'm successful re-gauging a set of IP Eng holed disk wheels these would then free up a set of plain steel Dream Steam wheels if those are of interest to you. I'll keep you advised.

Chris Cairns.

[Spule 4]

Thanks, we can discuss that later as a possible option.