flyboy2610
Loveably weird
I really should learn to finish one project before starting another. Oh, well.
I have an Athearn SD-9 locomotive that I installed a Digitraxx decoder into many moons ago. (It was my first install. While functional, it's not real pretty. It's being re-done.) I am cleaning and re-lubing the drive gear. This locomotive has always been a bit noisy, and I think I may have found one of the reasons why: It's missing a thrust washer from one of the worm gears. This loco has a 'modern' sealed motor with dual flywheels, so it's not noisy due to an open frame motor. I think the worm gear is moving back and forth causing the noise. I need a thrust washer in that gear tower. The problem, as you may have guessed, is: Athearn no longer MAKES these washers!
Doing some research for a source for these washers, I've come across a couple of sites where people have stated that a #2 flat washer is perfect for this application. I have a good supply of #2 flat washers, and the ID and OD are spot on! The only difference is thickness. The thrust washer on the driveshaft side is .011", and the thickness of a #2 flat washer (at least the ones I have) is .016", for a difference of .005", which is not quite the thickness of 2 sheets of notebook paper.
Do you think this is going to be enough to cause problems, or should I be OK to go with it?
I've looked around, and I can't find anything closer that what I have.
This is the worm gear. The driveshaft side washer is .094" ID, .221" OD, and .011" thick. The black oxide #2 washer is .094" ID, .217" OD (not enough to worry about) and .016" thick. I'm thinking it should be OK, but what say ye?
I have an Athearn SD-9 locomotive that I installed a Digitraxx decoder into many moons ago. (It was my first install. While functional, it's not real pretty. It's being re-done.) I am cleaning and re-lubing the drive gear. This locomotive has always been a bit noisy, and I think I may have found one of the reasons why: It's missing a thrust washer from one of the worm gears. This loco has a 'modern' sealed motor with dual flywheels, so it's not noisy due to an open frame motor. I think the worm gear is moving back and forth causing the noise. I need a thrust washer in that gear tower. The problem, as you may have guessed, is: Athearn no longer MAKES these washers!
Doing some research for a source for these washers, I've come across a couple of sites where people have stated that a #2 flat washer is perfect for this application. I have a good supply of #2 flat washers, and the ID and OD are spot on! The only difference is thickness. The thrust washer on the driveshaft side is .011", and the thickness of a #2 flat washer (at least the ones I have) is .016", for a difference of .005", which is not quite the thickness of 2 sheets of notebook paper.
Do you think this is going to be enough to cause problems, or should I be OK to go with it?
I've looked around, and I can't find anything closer that what I have.
This is the worm gear. The driveshaft side washer is .094" ID, .221" OD, and .011" thick. The black oxide #2 washer is .094" ID, .217" OD (not enough to worry about) and .016" thick. I'm thinking it should be OK, but what say ye?