Western Steamer - Repairs

[Super]

Very good job Ripley. What you have found is common in all these western type steamers whether they be these or the Disney line. My theory is that in this motor type configuration they used white plastic for the gears which is prone to cracking instead of something more durable like neoprene or some type of hybrid plastic. These are even known to have cracked gears right out of the box. They all seem to run fine on a flat track but the proof is in the inclines as you have shown. I am guessing you have used new gears in you stock or did you re-use from other scrap engines? Those little finicky engines have given me the most trouble when reassembling as I always can't get those weights in the way they came out. Are you thinking of doing a pictorial of your repair on one of the next ones?