Original crankpin recovered, no longer need replacement

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Colorado Midland Modeler

Colorado Midland Modeler

Proudly modeling the CM, MT & SL in HO Scale
I was running my Rivarossi FEF-3, (DCC ready version, circa 2003) and the crankpin on the third driver, left side, worked it's way loose and disappeared into the black hole. I spent somewhere around 6 hours looking for it with no luck. I have some crankpins, but none of them will fit. So, I need a replacement crankpin, does anyone know where I can get a replacement crankpin for this engine? Thanks.
 
Hmmm, you might try dimming the lights in the MRR room and go around with a very bright flashlight. Sometimes something shiny is easier to see when reflections happen. Well, if the thing isn't blackened. It should be on one side of the RoW or on the floor? Heck, you may even find the screw that holds it.

L8r
 


dennis461 said:
Lets see a picture of locomotive. I have Rivarossi parts.
Click to expand...
You do? That would be great! Here's some photos I just took today.
20250815_115438.jpg
20250815_115241.jpg
20250815_115313.jpg
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20250815_115358.jpg

ctclibby said:
Hmmm, you might try dimming the lights in the MRR room and go around with a very bright flashlight. Sometimes something shiny is easier to see when reflections happen. Well, if the thing isn't blackened. It should be on one side of the RoW or on the floor? Heck, you may even find the screw that holds it.

L8r
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I didn't dim the lights, but I did go around with a very large and powerful flashlight and found everything but what I'm looking for. I tested one of the other pins to see if they're magnetic, and the seem to be, so I sent a couple of engines thru both pushing and pulling cars with neo magnets on their undersides, and still nothing. I'm starting to be convinced that my train room has a tiny space/time anomaly. 💫🌪️
 
Just writing this to keep the post alive. I still haven't found the original crankpin that disappeared into the wormhole, so I'm still in the market for a replacement. Once again, any help in replacing the missing crankpin is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
ctclibby said:
Have you googled 'ho scale crankpin' - bunch of possibilities come up. Some maybe good, some not so good.

L8r
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I have indeed tried that, but couldn't find any that match, unfortunately. Another problem is I don't know what may be compatible from another wheel arrangement or brand. I've thought about testing crankpins from other engines in my fleet so I could look for junker versions, but I'm honestly terrified of losing another one to the wormhole.
 
Just another thought. Take off the one from the other side....gently in a flat corralled area of your desk as you don't want the wormhole to form. Get out your headset and vernier calipers and do some measuring. Overall length? Thread length? Thread size? Shoulder diameter? Shoulder height? I guess it could happen but I would be willing to bet the crankpin originally installed was an already manufactured drop in, not created at build time. If that is indeed the case, somebody made the thing in masse, and you will come up with something that works. Else you should be able to find something that is close enough to work; thread depth and shoulder size probably the most important. I personally hate it when this type of sh.t happens and I can not find stuff. Makes me spend way more time than necessary just cuz it pisses me off!

You might even try PM'n Mac ( KreigslokBR52 ) and see if he can make one or three for ya. He does a ton of metal work, so I suspect he has ways. He probably would need some specifics - crankpin pix near/next to one of those machinist rulers you can't see the lines on because they are so tiny.

Good Luck!

L8r
 


ctclibby said:
Just another thought. Take off the one from the other side....gently in a flat corralled area of your desk as you don't want the wormhole to form. Get out your headset and vernier calipers and do some measuring. Overall length? Thread length? Thread size? Shoulder diameter? Shoulder height? I guess it could happen but I would be willing to bet the crankpin originally installed was an already manufactured drop in, not created at build time. If that is indeed the case, somebody made the thing in masse, and you will come up with something that works. Else you should be able to find something that is close enough to work; thread depth and shoulder size probably the most important. I personally hate it when this type of sh.t happens and I can not find stuff. Makes me spend way more time than necessary just cuz it pisses me off!

You might even try PM'n Mac ( KreigslokBR52 ) and see if he can make one or three for ya. He does a ton of metal work, so I suspect he has ways. He probably would need some specifics - crankpin pix near/next to one of those machinist rulers you can't see the lines on because they are so tiny.

Good Luck!

L8r
Click to expand...
I'll have to look into a good set of calipers, mine aren't that accurate for some reason. I did take your advice and managed to remove the remaining pin on a tray that prevented time/space anomalies from sucking it in, and was able to take several photos next to a tape measurer. Interestingly, I was testing crankpins from other engines in my collection, and Broadway Limited crankpins seem to be compatible. But, I haven't been able to locate any on the net so far, I'll have to try to contact BLI tomorrow.
Here's the photos I took.
Rivarossi FEF3 crankpin (1).jpg
Rivarossi FEF3 crankpin (2).jpg
Rivarossi FEF3 crankpin (3).jpg
Rivarossi FEF3 crankpin (4).jpg
 


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