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 Posted - June 26 2015 : 10:39:09 PM
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Last night, while another T-storm blew through, I got out my Eldon trains, and decided to work on them finally. Took all 3 apart, only one had rubber bands, and they were dried out and stretched that they didn't turn the wheels even.  I spent a few minutes looking for some bands I already had, then gave up and took off to the stores to find some more. CVS was a bust, absolutely nothing. I then tried Family Dollar, not one I'd normally go to. But it turns out that they had a fantastic selection, and the thicker bands came in black with different sizes. The other type was a flatter band, like a traction tire, only one size, but it looked good. So for $1 each bag, I bought those.
Got home and proceeded to try them out. The flat band was the drive band, and the thicker rubber band became the axle to axle band. Got the first one rebuilt , and fired it up. Balky at first, then I realized the track was horrendously dirty.  Had the brightboy there, so cleaned up the brass track. I also oiled each motor, as they squalled when I tried them with no bands, and quieted down after I oiled the sintered bushing. After that, the first engine ran about as fast as a hustler!  Whoa! It also suffered from poppawheelie syndrome, it was so light. I got some of my lead weights, and put 0.5 oz inside, and another .25 oz up front. Helped weigh it down, and it didn't jump track after that. I also had to drill the back link pin coupler, it had broken off, so I got a brass nail, and cut that down with a dremel, and used that as the new hitch pin. After that first engine was haulin', I proceeded to install the bands in the other two. All 3 got tested, and worked decently, except they need more weight. These are gonna be fun to play with!  
So, once I get power to the tracks permanently, I will install them on this 2' x 2' module I built Tuesday night (?), and be ready to show it off, well, I need to detail it, right? But at least this project is moving along spritely now. 
Jerry
   
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - June 27 2015 : 12:27:24 PM
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Those are very odd little guys. I don't believe I've ever seen them before.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - June 28 2015 : 1:37:14 PM
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Hmmmm. I like that axle to axle band idea.
Has anyone tried that on Athearn RB drives?
I'll have to.
Evan
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Posted - June 28 2015 : 2:21:32 PM
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| Wow these are really neat. I will look for one at the next train show!
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Posted - June 28 2015 : 6:57:02 PM
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quote:Wow these are really neat. I will look for one at the next train show!
Originally posted by metalsmith1Â -Â June 28 2015Â :Â 2:21:32 PM
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Look for the tight radius track, too. Would make excellent trolley track. The center circle is Eldon track, 7.5 inch radius. The outer is Fleischman #6020 , 250mm radius, no longer made, and hard to find, too. Even if you don't want the track, I would, and would buy it from you if not too expensive. Trying to find tight radius non-flex track is tough. Finding the Eldon train is tougher, it's called the Little Big Train. Good luck at your train shows!
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - June 28 2015 : 9:28:34 PM
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quote:Hmmmm. I like that axle to axle band idea.
Has anyone tried that on Athearn RB drives?
I'll have to.
Evan
Originally posted by PGE33Â -Â June 28 2015Â :Â 1:37:14 PM
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Just a question: Why?
Athearn HiF drives each axle, and if you did the jumper band (and dealt with frame and bolster interference issues) the drive band would be driving double the axles and slip far more than it should.
One band per axle is better on Hi-F.
Just an opinion.
Dave
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Posted - June 29 2015 : 01:06:49 AM
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quote: quote:Hmmmm. I like that axle to axle band idea.
Originally posted by PGE33Â -Â June 28 2015Â :Â 1:37:14 PM
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Just a question: Why?
One band per axle is better on Hi-F.
Just an opinion.
Dave
Originally posted by ScaleCraft - June 28 2015 : 9:28:34 PM
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One good reason, Dave, would be to eliminate all the space-hogging those vertical rubber bands take up inside. Makes it MUCH harder to DCC the loco with them there! I managed it on the Hi F Hustler, though. And it would put the drive underneath....but you would lose power using only one upper drive belt, vs one per axle on Hi F, so for a heavy engine, it would not work most likely. that single drive belt would get a severe work-out most likely! It works on the tiny Eldon, though, it doesn't weigh much, and does work much better with the 1.5 oz of weight I added to the one engine. If the band was much wider and heavier duty, I might could see getting away with it on only one axle, but I just don't think that's a feasible engineering trick to be worth trying on a heavy locomotive.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - July 05 2015 : 5:43:49 PM
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Nice to see these little beasties running. Think you'd part with one? (Hint... hint...)? lol j/k
I'd love to see the prefab layout as well as the log car and the flat with the cannon. I've been toying more and more with an old west layout idea and this would be awesome.
Edited by - DanMacK on July 05 2015 5:49:44 PM
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Posted - July 05 2015 : 11:22:12 PM
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quote:Nice to see these little beasties running. Think you'd part with one? (Hint... hint...)? lol j/k
Originally posted by DanMacKÂ -Â July 05 2015Â :Â 5:43:49 PM
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I thnk Mustangandtrains had bought like 3 circles of this track, and had no engines. I was holding one for him, in case he wants to buy one. I'd like to keep two myself. If he still doesn't want one from me, I'll part with one eventually.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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