I have an early (2nd run) Shay that I recently pulled from many years of storage. No surprise that the infamous split gears were apparent as soon as I applied power. I have ordered the NWSL replacement gears. Does anyone know of any notes, blogs, etc., about replacing the gears?
I have my own stock of axles with gears to keep my Shays functional.
That said, I did try taking several old axles apart, and it is definitely interesting, to say the least.
If you just try to use a puller, the bearings get internally damaged (nicked races). If you can hold the end in a vise, clear of the bearing, and a sharp flatblade screwdriver and small hammer, or chisel, catching the inner race only, NOT the shield, and get it moving.
I’ve done a lot of NWSL gears, lots, on other axles, and that part is easy.
I use a deep 1/4" drive socket and a vise.
Keep it square when you start it.
I am hopeful that the bearings aren’t all as tight as the ones I tried to get off.
If I recall, once they started moving, it became easier.
Make sure you keep a good one handy for a pattern to set the new gear on the axle.
Hope you bought all 4 of them.
If you don’t have washer kits, I don’t think Bachmann even has those any more, and it may be a better deal to buy new trucks.
Washer kits identifiable from the outside, non-geared wheel, look between the sideframe and the end of the axle. If the washer under the screw is barely bigger than the screw, you don’t have them.
If the washer fully covers the black wheel insulator insert, you do.
If you don’t, the spacer washers between the wheel and the bearings will be bad. As in multiple pieces. And usually at least one wheel insert bad.
TOC
EDIT:
I checked with Barry, he has done bearing removal on later axles than I have, and he had no problem using an arbour press, pushing straight.
TOC
Thanks for the advice