Lionel FM Trainmaster 18301 broken plastic gears

Unless you plan on doing this repair on many locomotives, I'd just strip the trucks and send them to our own Chuck Sartor to have the brass gears installed. The cost of the proper tools is going to be larger than you think and Chuck already has the tools and does this repair for a reasonable charge.

Could the truck be replaced with a postwar equivalent?

Steve

Thanks for the replies!  I've reached out to Chuck Sartor via e-mail to see if he can help me.  

At some point I'm going to dive in and get these tools - I like to tinker!

Had the same issue on a 2016-production Lion Chief Plus RS-3- found that later-issue 2018 production RS-3s had metal gears.   I ordered replacement trucks from the later engine's parts list.  The pair was about $ 80. 

1.  If Chuck Sartor can do the upgrade at a reasonable cost and time frame- go with it.

2.  If not- look up the parts list, for replacement gears for YOUR loco.  IF they have been replaced- the info will be "Not Available", but with no reference to a substitute.

2.  Find a later-issue FM Trainmaster road name and 6-XXXXXX number, and look at its parts list- if a number appears- it will likely be a direct replacement, but upgraded in my experience.  But- I did a Private Message to Dave Olsen to verify.

  Keep us informed!!!