Over on the Tyco Depot Group JNXT posted a locomotive of the week photo of his rubber band drive BL-2 that he modified with a larger motor pulley to slow it down. I thought this was a very clever idea that got me to wondering if anyone has ever applied this idea to steam engines using o-rings instead of rubber bands that would replace expensive precision gearboxes at a fraction of the cost. Sounds to me like something Darth Santa Fe would come up with? Food for thought????? Athearn used this method on their early diesels but it was never liked very much, however, by utilizing o-rings and pulleys perhaps a decent drive could be fashioned that would replace a gearbox and run just as smooth. Richard in Vermont
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I believe Varney and also Lionel had HO engines using O-rings. I just bought a Lionel HO diesel at the TImonium show with plastic pulleys, obviously not for rubber bands. Problem is getting the tension JUST right, because there usually is no adjustment for it, so if the O-rings get some wear or stretch to them, then they slip. Hobbyline may have also had an O-ring drive. I've seen a few out there. getting the correct sized O-ring for proper tension is critical with these. One reason they just didn't catch on, too much play and wear and you have an engine that can't pull much anymore. Plus the O-rings are stiffer than rubber bands, and put more stress on the driveline and motor to keep friction up enough. I just don't think there is much that can be done to increase their efficiency that much over a gear drive. Or even get close to one.
Jerry " When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Varney and some brass models had something similar. But was a steel spring like o ring. " Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - June 12 2016 : 12:25:24 PM
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Posted - June 12 2016 : 11:48:54 PM
