I recently picked up a couple of MPC locos, an EP5 and an F3. How hard is it to change the plastic gear in the power truck to a metal gear. Can it just pop out and easily replaced? Do I even need to replace them? Also the F3 seems to have a slight wobble when running, I checked the trucks, traction tires etc and everything seems ok. Do I need to put a washer between the truck and frame or something else? Anyone else have an issue like this? Thanks in advance.
Bruce
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Bruce: The MPC engineering plastic gears usually tell you in no uncertain terms when they need to be replaced. The common failure mode for the worm gear on the drive axle inside the casting is a split. When that happens, the gear relaxes on the axle shaft and the motor spins and goes nowhere while shredding the remainder of the gear.
Chuck Sartor is a good repairman for these. he can replace it with normal brass gears. At the minimum, you'll need a wheel puller, new brass gear, and some way to mount the gear centered in the truck block along with getting the wheel re-installed square on the axle again.
Many people have seen this over the years. As far as the wobble, some MPC wheels were better than others. Check to see if the wheel runs true or is slightly out-of round. The traction tires could also need replacing if they have spun in their past operating life and are not truly round anymore.
Thanks for the info, I'll deal with the gears when or if it happens, I hope never. Will check the traction tires again and see if that improves things.
In addition to D&H 65's comments: sometimes there is a bit of flash on the parting lines of the wheel casting underneath the traction tire. The flash can be smoothed away with a file. Just be careful not to get the filings into the mechanism.
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