"Alco" Brand Brass RSD4/5 Question(s)...

@Strummer posted:

I just scored one on eBay; here is a photo from that site:

It has some bad gears in one of the trucks, which are marked "KTM": can someone here give some info about this line of models and perhaps what to look for when it arrives? Also, what might be a good (safe) way to manually clean this thing? (I do not have an ultrasonic cleaner.)

I remember in the late '60s/early '70s Model Railroader had a monthly ad for this brand: back then they were pretty much all priced at $42.50...

Thanks!

Mark in Oregon

Mark,

I hope you didn't pay too much for it.  These, like all Alco model brass diesels from that time were poor runners.  The nickname for them was "Coffee grinder" drives because of the sound they made when they ran.

If you check again you'll the trucks are marked KMT, which stands for Kumata, the Japanese company which made the model.  NorthWest Short Line makes replacement gears for KMT diesels.

Are they the gears on the axles or the gear tower?  If its the axle gears NorthWest Short Line (NWSL) at https://nwsl.com/ has two options.  One is a complete regear kit with new axle gears, worms, and thrust washers which retails for $129.95 ( https://nwsl.com/products/worm...rm-gear-steel-delrin ).  The second option is to order replacement geared wheetsets from them. either part ( https://nwsl.com/products/gear...gear-with-bearings-4 ) or ( https://nwsl.com/products/gear...15-teeth-worm-gear-4 ).  These sell for $59.95 for four wheelsets (although the prototype is a C-C with all axles driven KMT made the as A1A-A1A with the middle axle an idler).

If it's the tower gears that are broken here's what you need to do.  First you need it to count the number of teeth on each gear. Then go to Walthers website and search for KMT gears.  You'll get 44 choices, half of them delrin, and other half brass.  If Walthers has the ones you need in stock (not likely)  you can order them direct from Walthers.  If not  then go to the NWSL website, and using the six digit part number from Walthers (omitting the "53" prefix) search the NWSL website and order them direct from NorthWest Short Line.

Good luck!

Stuart

Thanks for all the info Stuart. When it gets here I will be sure to let you (and everyone else) know what I find...

Mark in Oregon

Stuart, et al.

It arrived today; a quick first look shows a bit of corrosion (?) on the bottom cover plate of one of the trucks. Should be an easy clean.

Shot some contact cleaner onto the armature, cleaned what little carbon build up was present, a little oil and the motor runs very well: smooth and much quieter than I expected.

Will look into this further as time allows and will keep you posted... hopefully with some pictures.

It occurred to me that this is only the second 6-axle unit I've ever had; the other being one of Kato's lovely SD40-2s. THAT thing is smooth as silk.

Mark in Oregon

Well...

A few "fun-filled" hours later and this is what I found.

2 of the 4 axle gears are indeed split; I wonder if those made for Athearn diesels would fit? 

First thing to go were those terribly stiff wires: replaced with nice flexible Marklin stuff.

This is a real puzzle as to assembly; certain steps must be followed, yet in some cases "B" must go before "A"; but "B" won't fit unless "A" goes in first! 

It's at a point now where it's "running": time to start over again and do a deep cleaning to (hopefully) improve performance. Tons of fun... 

Mark in Oregon

Hi Mark,

Athearn gears won't fit.

Stuart

Northwest Short Line (NWSL) has replacement gears for these, both for the towers and the axles.  Check out their website and get the old girl running again.  One of their can motors also really help these run better over the old semi open frame job that usually has weak magnets at this age.   AD

Thanks guys. My experience with NWSL has always been great, so I will look into it.

Mark in Oregon

An update...or post script, depending on your take.

After the afore-mentioned "deep cleaning", etc, this old thing has been re-assembled and is running pretty well.  Will be ordering a replacement set of geared axles soon. A set of new brushes helped, and you know what they say:

"If it looks like an Alco, and sounds like an Alco (which this certainly does)...

...then it's probably an Alco".

Mark in Oregon