Thee are several ways to repair your HO scale Shay if you find your line shaft gears have split.
1) Purchase the Northwest Shortline re-gear kit. This kit is re engineered gears made from metal vs plastic.
2)Purchase new trucks from Bachmann. This option is no longer valid, Bachmann has been "out of stock" for a least the last year.
3) Purchase the driveline assemblies from Bachmann, these were offered after they trucks became "NLA".
1) Purchase the Northwest Shortline re-gear kit. This kit is re engineered gears made from metal vs plastic.
2)
3) Purchase the driveline assemblies from Bachmann, these were offered after they trucks became "NLA".
I'm going to demonstrate how to repair your Shay using the drive-line assemblies. I believe Bachmann has corrected the split gear issue because I have not had any more issues with my newer Shays and Climax engines, as well as the engines I have repaired using this kit.
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Remove the truck(s) from the Shay, this is simple enough by removing the Phillips head screw in the truck center.
Remove the single Phillips head screw, on the line shaft side of the trick. (below)
Once the screw is removed, use a flat blade screwdriver and push on the round index tab. (below)
This action will cause the driveline frame to separate. Carefully remove the bronze tab (electrical pickup) and the front truck frame.
Re install the the bronze tab (electrical pickup) and the front truck frame to the NEW drive line frame. There are many different methods to assembly the components, take your time and if you are have problems take a break, you have to align the 2 axles to the side frame hubs as well as align the truck end pieces. I found that if I aligned the axles, I still was able to then snap the front and rear truck frames together. Oh yes, and make sure your bronze electrical pickup is in the "UP" position.
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The is a very easy repair compared to the other options, go ahead and give it a shot. The more you learn and become comfortable with your shay, the more confident you will become conducting minor repairs and tweaks on this great model.
Here is a "How-To" from TSG Multimedia on changing the gears using a different method, and using the NWSL metal gears.
Dean,
ReplyDeleteI just found your site, searching for guides to repairing the Bachmann Shay gears. I have both the replacement drivelines as well as the replacement NWSL gears. Thanks for posting the pictures and instructions. I plan to tackle the drivelines this afternoon, saving the NWSL gears for later if they're ever needed. I also need to replace the pickups as I've mangled them as well. I found one source for making them out of Kadee springs. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for the post! -Scott
Scott
ReplyDeleteGlad it could be helpful, that is my goal. Let me know how you made out.
Dean
Successfully completed. Now to run it a while and see how it performs. Train show in Milwaukee this coming weekend. If all is well it will run for 2 1/2 days straight! Time will tell, but at least it's mobile again! Thanks. Scott
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to add a little gear lube.
ReplyDeleteDean
ReplyDeleteHave also just found the site,wonderful just what I was looking for. Brought the Shay recently
very nice indeed(,DC still updating to DCC soon )Then it started spitting bits of gear !.Had read reports of this so started to look for info to dismantle the beast,found this site with your info strip down as per your instructions no problems (just need to grow another hand & some better eyes). Also the DISASSEMLY pics where a great help, now I can lubricate the internal gears Thankyou
Pete
Hi Pete
ReplyDeleteYour very much welcome, this is my way of giving back to a great hobby. Glad I could help.
Dean
What about the On30 Trucks?
ReplyDeleteHello, what about disassembling the On30 Shay Truck?
ReplyDeleteDavid
DeleteI model in HO, but there is a step by step instructions for the On30 at this link.
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40684
Thanks for the blog. I was going to do the NWSL gears but went with the Bachmann ones based on your review. Wouldn't you know, the new gears they sent me were split?! Couldn't believe it. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteFYI_Bachmann is now selling complete trucks with new metal gears for the HO Bachmann Shay
ReplyDeleteOh I see that now. Funny the replacement trucks cost more than what I paid for the shay. I think I bought it for around $80. I'll see if they send me new replacements for the cracked one. I appreciate you pointing those out!
DeleteYes, I'll admit, they are expensive, but, if you purchased a shay for $80.00, that was a great deal!. Yes, I agree, if Bachmann sent you side frames with split gears, shame on them, and they should make it right.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if anyone has else has purchased the NWSL gears and found them to be an Extremely tight fit. Best I can measure mine are about .045 inside diameter and the bachmann shaft in my shay is .053. No way these are going on at this point. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDon
Hello. I find that I am behind the times - I have a Bachmann shay that just started having problems in the past year. My grandson loves the engine, so I want to get it repaired, additionally y father worked for Lima Locomotive Works, and although he never worked on the shay construction, he did help build steam locos.
ReplyDeleteI am looking to see if anyone can help me find the replacement trucks mentioned in the above posts. I do have a set of the NWSL gears, but have not been able to press them onto the axles - that seems to be a skill that has eluded me. It would seem that to be successful you first must be able to keep everything in alignment - not easy for me so far.
Any suggestions on where to look for replacements is greatly appreciated.
Hey Buckeye Boomer I don't know if you're in northwest Ohio but if you still have those gears I would want to buy them from you
ReplyDeletedunno who you are talking about, but regardless I sold off all my HO
ReplyDelete