726 Berkshire excess play in drive wheels?

Can you better describe what you mean by play. Is it side to side, up and down like worn axle bushings, or play in the gears. Hard to provide a fix without knowing what you really mean. I am sure if you can tell us what you mean someone can help you out.

appears to be side to side movement causing binding in curves, thanks for the reply!

appears to run fine in reverse, but in forward binding in curves. Motor is fine and already gone through. Gears mesh.

The rear axle bushings are worn and the force of the worm on the worm wheel is pushing it out of good alignment.  One wheel may be rubbing on the chassis too because of this.

Thought that may be the problem. Do you know a reputable repair person that can do that, as I don't have the proper tools. Ideally, someone in Central VA area. Anyone out there know someone in my area?

Thanks for the reply Rob

The standard Lionel wheel cup set does not include cups that will fit a nickel rimmed Berkshire. Hobby Horse makes custom cups for these wheels.

snap a C clip on the axle and run it another 60 years...

http://www.teamassociated.com/...s/31160/31160_lg.jpg

You can make a very satisfactory fix yourself.

The right rear axle bushing is always the one that wears out first(from forward operation), pushing the axle left, the right rear wheel into the frame, and the worm wheel off center.

Use one(or two or as needed) 671M-22 clips/retaining rings and snap them on to the drive axle to the left of the worm wheel.  You want to have between half to the full width of a 671M-22 clip of end play in the axle for best performance. Keep the entire gearbox & axle lubed well with a synthetic HP grease(Lucas Red 'N' Tacky #2, eg.).

If you can source some clips with the same inner diameter as the 671M-22, but larger outer diameter, that would be beneficial.  The last good tip I heard was to use an appropriate number of plastic bread closure clips(cut to be round) instead of the 671M-22.  Very little friction with that method and they too slip right over the axle and stay on.

Thanks for the help Bob and Rob, will try that.

Rob

e-clips are one of those hardware items that are only difficult to find because no one seems to be able to agree on the name: e-clips, c-clips, e-rings, retaining clips, etc.

1. Most toy train parts suppliers have them under part number 671-M22

2. Most hardware stores carry them somewhere in the section near screws, nut, and bolts in the the cabinets of cardboard or plastice sliding drawers, sometimes called "Hillman" drawers.

3. Amazon.com has a page full of them by different manufacturers: try http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=e-clips&sprefix=e-clips%2Caps%2C135 or search for "e-clips" within the Amazon website.

4. You can do a "Google" or "Bing" search directly

I would first try Rob's suggestion of the bread-bag closures. If that works, you can just stop there or go ahead and buy some metal ones.

Note 1: some of the metal ones, the thinner ones in particular, have a slight curve to them so that they act a bit like a wave- or spring-washer. Not sure if that would be better or worse in this shimming operation.

Note 2. There is at least one tool available for inserting and removing them. See the Amazon site. (I have no experience with this tool.)

wolverine

"Jesus Clips" is what i call them.  All my friends know what I mean when I refer to a Jesus Clip.

And, I have "Jesus Handles" in my cars.   You probably have them too and never realized it!

726 is running sweet now. C-clad did the trick! Thanks for all the help guys! Now on to the others.

I meant c-clip