S-Helper Service Locomotive | 2-8-0 | Mechanical
Manufacturer:
S-Helper Service
Product Category:
Locomotive
Model Name:
2-8-0
Notes Type:
Mechanical
Title:
Disassembly
File:
Notes:
Don Thompson shared tips how to disassemble and re-assemble this engine. This is an advanced topic, so take care. The piping is fragile. The LEDs in the headlights are molded into the light housings and are not serviceable.
You need a 1.6mm wrench to remove the side rods from driver #4 (available from Dave's Twacks & Twains). The delrin bottom chassis cover/brake hanger has flat head Phillips screws, and the two delrin injectors are a press fit and need to be detached.
Once removed, you are exposing a flexible printed circuit board that brings power to the headlight, optical detector of the chuff count, smoke unit, and both rail pickups. This unplugs under the cab.
When you lift out driver #4, do not forget that there are two phosphor bronze pick-up pins touching the back of the driver. They are spring-loaded and there are no replacements!
As far as quartering the one driver, should you need to install a new gear, use a carbide scribe and scratch the axle end and driver so that you can line that up as you press the driver back on the axle.
Manufacturer:
S-Helper Service
Product Category:
Locomotive
Model Name:
2-8-0
Notes Type:
Mechanical
Title:
Removing the Smoke Unit
External Web Link:
External Web Link:
Manufacturer:
S-Helper Service
Product Category:
Locomotive
Model Name:
2-8-0
Notes Type:
Mechanical
Title:
Drawbar Pin Replacement
File:
External Web Link:
This diagram shows the connections for the plug pins.
(image copyright © Don Thompson; used by permission)
Manufacturer:
S-Helper Service
Product Category:
Locomotive
Model Name:
2-8-0
Notes Type:
Mechanical
Title:
Gear Replacement
External Web Link:
Notes:
This is Don Thompson's advice:
"I am not sure that all 2-8-0 gears would crack. We only had 2 out of 1,500 engines with that problem when we closed shop in 2013. Have more cracked since then? Yes! I am not sure if it is a material problem with the injection of the Celcon gear (depending on when the gear was injected, the mold could have been too hot or cold, or the cycle time changed during injection, the cooling water for the mold flow changed; so many possibilities), or maybe the axle diameter varies so that a difference would cause stress in the plastic gear. I am pretty sure this is not an operation problem as the Cincinnati Museum was running multiple 2-8-0s 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for years. The 2-8-0 models were produced in two batches, plus we had over 100 AF-compatible driver sets reset to code 110 before assembly. We tried to track the two engines we repaired but we could not really tell when they were crafted in China. To me the important thing is that NWSL has made replacement gears. If you are truly worried, purchase some. A $14.95 investment is not too bad of an insurance on a $600 investment!" (ed: 2016 prices)
The original S-Helper Service replacement part was #1096-09-04 (back when Dave's Twacks & Trains took over the replacement parts inventory).
Dave Held and Dan Vandermause both report that NorthWest ShortLine has the parts necessary to replace a broken gear in these locomotives. Remove the driver from the engine, and send it to NWSL to have them replace it for you for parts and labor ($70+).
(image copyright © Jace Kahn; used by permission)
If you are brave and have the tools and time to do the work yourself, then order the replacement gear NWSL part #2930-6. Dan recommends that you order one for each 2-8-0 you have, just in case they develop this problem in the future.
(image copyright © NorthWest ShortLine; used by permission)