Adirondack Car Works 2-8-0 54" drivers

slater's plastikard

No - the company has a name.  I'll think of it, I hope.  Those drivers are the most impressive parts of the Adirondack production.

Slater's Plastikard is the name of the company - I have one of these engines as well from Ed.

https://www.slatersplastikard.com/search.php

Thanks Martin - A rather odd name but searching the site they sure seem to ACW's source for drivers.   They have a very long list of O scale (7mm) steam locomotive "driver wheels" - however all current production drive wheels have fine detailed plastic centers and smaller profile "tyre" flanges than the cast iron ones my ACW 2-8-0.  I've emailed  the company to inquire if they might have some old stock around.     

I actually ordered a set of the "shell-cast" iron ones with wider tread in the 1990s.  They looked too delicate for my tastes.  Walsall comes to mind (finally).

Ed, Slater's wheels have always had plastic centres.  Walsall Model Industries make wheel castings and, I'm a diesel man so I may be getting out of my depth here(!), Mercian Models
http://www.modelrailways.tv/contact-me.html 
seem to offer both brands turned with axles, I like the caption on the right "Prices depend on          ":

http://www.modelrailways.tv/accessories.html#

Here's other Walsall wheel castings from their website, which Mercian may turn to scale:
https://www.walsallmodelindust..._drivers/?k=2111:4::

There are other driving wheel suppliers in the UK, a pic of the wheel and axle end plus dimension will be useful if nothing springs out of the Walsall or Mercian lists.  Don't forget the scale difference (about 10% 1:48 to 1:43.5) prototype dimensions will be shown as UK O-gauge diameter, usually in millimetres.  When you order, mention back-to-back dimension, Ed may have asked for something other than UK finescale.  Notice the Slaters/Walsall cranks are different too - between and on spokes.

This is getting too long!  Let me know if I can be of further help(!), I'll be at the Chicago Meet too.

Jason

 Jason - thanks for the post and the links.   The drivers on my ACW 2-8-0 chassis have metal (cast iron) centers, and the crank pin is in line with one of 12 spokes. Also I noticed in your Mercian Models photo the different orientation of the square axel opening in relationship to the crank pin location between the two drivers. The drivers on my chassis are similar to the  finished Wallsal  one in your photo.  Measuring precise driver diameter is a challenge as the tires are tapered.  I'll contact Wallsal and inquire how the measurement should be taken - at the extreme outer edge or at the flange.    My driver measures 28 mm at the outer face and is similar to the  Wallsal D72  unmachined casting.  They state it can be machined in a range of 26-29 mm. It's interesting to note that the Slater and Wallsel drivers are cast without counterweights.  The counterweights on my ACW drivers are formed with what looks to be Evergreen body putty (I need to touch them up).  I'm a little confused as to which of the 2 English firms does the finishing - Wallsal or Mercian.  When I hear back from Wallsel I may also contact Mercian.  Given that it is only the insulated driver that doesn't run true (and is easily dismounts from the square axel) perhaps I may not need to purchase a pair on a new axel. 

Hi Ed,
It'll be Mercian doing the machining so try them first.  Mention Ed Reutling, they most probably will remember him!  Trevor Cousens is your man on +44 156 288-4800.  I always forget how I'm supposed to write the country code for calls from the US, but ....

Most 7mm driving wheels in the UK are designed for kits, so the balance weights are expected to come off the kit-etch.

The happy parrot on my left shoulder says you might be lucky and just need another insulating piece from Mercian to press in.  If the time difference is a nuisance try:

http://www.modelrailways.tv/contact-me.html

Jason

Jason -  Before seeing your post I emailed Walsall - Lez Allen promptly replied.  He said that they sold drivers to Ed Reutling a long time ago but no longer had the records on file.  He asked that I send a photo of the driver and he'll confirm if it matches their D72 casting.  If it does I'd then send the good driver and axel to him and they would machine an insulated mate.  Do you think it would be worthwhile to also contact Mercian?  This Forum, internet web sites, and email sure makes addressing an issue like this so much easier than back when he was developing his mechanisms.  

.  

That is actually pretty good looking.  Are you sure those are Walsall?  They look more beefy - like Pearce.  And the Reutling steamer I saw was about 90% plastic.  It did use that style side rod, but not a nice brass cylinder block.

Can you do a photo of exactly what the problem is?  Shipping is painful even here, but to England and back - cheaper to buy a USH mechanism, I think.

If it is an allen head holding the driver on a square axle stub, then it is possible that a new axle is all you need.  Alternatively, a small metal chip or piece of dirt could be in the interface - removing it could be the cure?

Bob - the brass cylinder block, valve gear, boiler, and tender is the work of Frank Miller.  The milled solid brass frame, side rods, and drivers are from an Ed Reutling Adirondack Car Works (ACW) 2-8-0 that came with a NWSL gearbox and Sagami motor.  The ACW resin boiler, cylinders, cab, and tender didn't have the look of the H&BT Baldwin consolidation #37 I'm modeling so those components were sold.  Walsall has acknowledged that they sold a quantity of drivers to Ed Reutling and I've sent photos of the driver to them and await their confirmation.  I did consider other mechs but found the ACW one to come closest to the dimensions of the H&BT prototype I'm modeling.   

I removed the countersunk Allen key, pulled the driver,  and cleaned all the mating surfaces.  The axel end and Allen key faces are well formed, but I can see  the square opening in the driver was not cleanly cut.  After reassembly I used a NMRA gauge and found that the driver set is in and out of gauge around its perimeter.  The video below shows the wobble. ( apologies for the audio - the news was on the shop TV )

If Wallsal confirms the driver is theirs they said all I'd have to ship is the good wheel and axel.  They would machine a new insulated driver and make sure it  matches its mate, is in gauge, and runs true.  It will be interesting to learn what the bottom line cost will be.

Shipping will probably be the major cost.  Walsall was quite reasonable, as I recall.  Did you try gentle persuasion?  The cast iron won't take much force (it is brittle) but a couple of "tap-tap-tap" exercises may get you in the ballpark.  Mark the high spot before tapping, to see if you are making any progress.

Ed, you are getting on quicker than me.  2+2=5 for me, I thought I saw a mention somewhere that Walsall were cutting down on supplying turned wheels and Google threw Mercian at me and they do mention them.  Anyway,  apologies, problem may be solved!!

Jason