Drive Springs

[leon]

I am the proud owner of a couple N scale locomotives by Life -Like and I am in the dire need of some drive springs for the N scale GP38 locomotive! Would somebody please let me know where I could find these springs? Thank you, leon

[Tyson Rayles]

Life-Like was bought out by Walthers is now their Proto line so I would check with them.

[leon]

Thank You Tyson. I will try Walthers.
Leon

[leon]

I tried Walthers but had no luck. I am willing to try any other suggestions. Maybe I will have to use a universal drive in -place of the springs----just a thought.
Thanks to all of you

[leon]

Can anybody give me a solution to this 'spring' problem? Could I replace the springs with a universal joint? If anybody thinks they have some sort of a solution please let me know.
Thanks Leon

[Tyson Rayles]

Not owning one of those type of locos I'm not even sure what spring you are talking about. Can you post a pic?

[leon]

    I hope you can see the spring. There are two of them which are attached to either side of the motor and the worm gear in the trucks.

[Catt]

If I remember correctly there is a shaft the extends from both the motor and the trucks. Am I right ? It has been a long time since I have seen my LifeLike N scale locos.

[leon]

No there is no shaft between the motor and drive trucks 0nly the spring on both sides of the motor.

[Catt]

No not a connecting shsft but short shafts protruding from the trucks and motor.The reason I ask is I think what I did was trash the springs and use fuel line tubing and it seems like it was my GP 38-2s by LifeLike. I know they were very good runners but somebody wanted those Chessie units bad enough to pay me enough for them that I bought two KATO GP 35s with the money. :mrgreen:

[leon]

I think I seem to recall that solution somewhere before but forgot all about it until now. I have some Oxygen tubing that I will try (hope the id is a tight fit). I don't know if it will be as flexable as the fuel tubing you used. Just in case the tubing I have is too big---please let me know the size of tubing you used. I appreciate all of the info you have given me--Thanks a bunch.

[Tyson Rayles]

Medical supply houses sell surgical tubing that comes in several sizes that I know they have used in HO for years.

[BR60103]

Would shrink wrap insulation work?

[leon]

I checked my supply of medical tubing but it is too big. So I got the idea of using the insulation from electrical wire and found some that had a tight fit. Now I need to find out if it is flexible enough.
PS. I don't know if the shrink wrap will work. I don't think I would like to apply heat around the motor shaft for fear of weakening any electrical joints.

[Tyson Rayles]

Let us know if it works.