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Don't mean to hijack this topic, Ray, I have a complete Mantua 4-6-2 valve gear set and am wondering if it could fit on my big six 0-6-0, do you think it could? Originally posted by SCVR66 - August 11 2013 :  3:15:34 PM

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Guys, boy I got a load on this one.... Mantua? ALL the ecentric crank that were EVER used are interchangable....ON ONLY the locomotives that HAD full working valve gear from the factory.....Those that had no valve gear? Will not work!!! Why? The "Ecentric rod" length is different, and the amount of travel of the crosshead and yoke for this linkage, which goes through the Expansion rod, to the "Radius Rod", the Radius rod length is crucial, just as much as the Ecentric Rod! See, The Crosshead, has "Crosshead Arm" that leads to a short rod, "Union Link" that comes off it, then leads to yet another rod, the "Combination Lever", to connect to another rod that goes into the valve cylinder, Valve Stem (top of the main cylinder) that functions the cylinder and has forward and reverse motion. Being said that, the radius rod has different lengths depending on the distance the whole rod prier to it, moves while in motion. See, the reason this is crucial, is one the 4-6-2, the rods have to span the cylinder in such a way that the rear most pilot truck is BEHIND the cylinder, and the cylinder is centered and has the main rod going to the CENTER driver.....On the 0-6-0, its shorter, as the cylinder chest is closer the front driver and the main rod goes to the REAR driver......See? IF your following along, this is the change in the driver distance, which changes the rod length. On the 2-8-2 The Main rod connects to the 3rd driver from the front, this yet again, changes the Union Rod AND Radius Rod length and you can't interchange a 4-6-2 set of valve gear, from Mantua to a 2-8-2 Mantua, due to this rod length differance! There simply will be to much "play" in the rod movement and will jam up the linkages, OR the rods are to short, and it will lock up the movements.....These distances have to be taken seriously even on a model for it to move freely and without any restraint of the movement, in either direction! The shortest rod, that connects to the MAIN driver is the ecentric rod, this rod has no length differance, where the rod that connects to it, does! Below is the Mantua type valve gear, in motion....Which would be Walschaerts Valve Gear: The following valve gear would be better suited for a steam switcher, which would be Bakers Valve Gear: On the Bakers Valve gear, it be easier to get the distance right as its not as crucial, as what they at the Mantua factory, used!!!!! Originally posted by EM-1 - August 11 2013 :  11:00:36 PM

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Ray, so I could use 2-6-6-2 valve gear parts and a 4-6-2 ecentric? Also, could somebody show a picture of an ecentric rod? Originally posted by Redneck Justin - August 11 2013 :  10:47:27 PM

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Matter of fact, didn't Bowser have a 0-4-0 valve gear set as well? Originally posted by EM-1 - August 12 2013 :  10:47:12 PM

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Didn't Varney have a full valve gear kit for their 0-4-0T Dockside switcher loco one time? Originally posted by microbusss - August 12 2013 :  9:07:02 PM