I have read on this forum in the past that some people are creating "washers" out of the plastic bread wrapper enclosures (see photo) to place over the axles of engines to improve drive gear alignment.
I just received my new Lionel Legacy Cotton Belt GP7 (2133162) yesterday, and was doing an initial "once-over" and lube. As with many engines, the excess play in the axles only allows the gears to overlap about half-way if the wheels are pushed to one side. So, I decided to try this idea for the first time. I cut out some slotted "washers" and slipped them over the axles in the approriate spots to prevent the sideways motion. The gears align perfectly now, and the engine seems to run just fine. Is there any reason not to do this on other engines? Are there others out there that are routinely doing this, and has it worked well long-term?
