Lexi the Experimental Engine x2

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Many thanks OTR

NPRR that's my line!!

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This being my first stab at a complete overhaul of a TM2 I had no idea that the side rod distance is just a bit longer which prevents the use of the Plarail rods. I had some nice ones to use too.

Could you heat them up and stretch them?

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I would think that would ruin them. I just reused the TM2 set. Another problem was that the bulb end on the TM2 is smaller than the Plarails so you can't use Plarail wheels, like I did here, without some modifications. Hmmm, I wonder if this was premeditated by TM2 so its not so easy to swap wheels and rods with the better Plarail parts, oh, and also the original Trackmaster parts don't work easily either. Thats OK though as I have many sets of side rods for other custom trains.

Ucwepn has a video on how to swap the wheels with plarail ones. it is a very timely and painful process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZgf031Cwko

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Actually, I found it quite easy to do the swap with the home made tools I have. As you can see in the picture above all 4 wheels have been replaced with Plarail steam wheels. The problems come if the engine needs side rods. There is one good thing about the TM2 though....because all the chassis are all interchangeable, I was able to use one that had a molded middle wheel which the stock Lexi has none.