Niagara Wheel covers --- do you hate looking a those screw heads too.?

That's awesome! I will very much like to see if this works because it's such a good idea.

Wow doesn’t even begin to describe that!!...fantastic work Alan!...that’s some detail!..😁😁😁

Pat

PAT

thanks but it's not me, the printer did most of the work!!

I DID push the buttons on the printer though! LOL

Those came out real nice!  Alan, don't sell yourself short the printer is only as good as the guy doing the cad. Depending on the thickness maybe a 1/16" magnet could be embedded in them to hold them on.

Doug

Where would you find a thin .23" diameter magnet 🧲?

Good idea.

*GO* Alan!  Awesome work! 

@trnluvr posted:

Those came out real nice!  Alan, don't sell yourself short the printer is only as good as the guy doing the cad. Depending on the thickness maybe a 1/16" magnet could be embedded in them to hold them on.

Doug

Magnets would only work if the fastener is steel,...if they’re stainless, no dice,....I’d just assume use a tiny dab of automotive silicone and let it cure overnight,...that way, it’s rubberized, they can easily be picked off for any service work, peel off any residual silicone, re-apply, and be right back in business,....simple, easy, affordable and reusable,.....😁....I like easy!.

Pat

IF THIS PRINT WORKS, and the application also works email me how many you want. Since I will be printing these a about 120 a crack I should have enough.

Now you will still need to paint them from the gray color of the resin and attach them.

Alan, I’m not sure how many people will take you up on your offer, but to me, just the fact that you took the time to prepare and print this for the benefit for others is remarkable.

Keep up the great work!

Charlie

@AlanRail posted:

Where would you find a thin .23" diameter magnet 🧲?

Good idea.

https://www.mcmaster.com/5902K52/ is 1/16" thin enough?

Also, those prints are PHENOMENAL! I envy your printer haha

test

need to paint them

I have no idea what the real crankpin caps looked like, but Stevenson has them in nickel silver for the C&O Greenbrier.  Quite a bit smaller, but the same general idea.

Those look a lot better than the screws. This was an excellent idea!

apparently the size I made was too big so I made these so that they only fit over the screw head.

here is what they look like coming off the printer

Wow; looks like you're really on to something there... 

Mark in Oregon

Yes, they sure look nice. May I suggest that the edit your thread title, as these items are NOT "Wheel covers", but covers for the roller bearing side rod crank pins. The axle ends on modern steam locomotive are hollow (you can actually see through the entire length of the driver axles), so putting any sort of "cover" over the axle ends of the drive wheels, might be a bit difficult.

As additional information, everyone might check out the roller bearing rods and crank pin "covers" on the MTH New York Central L4b Mohawk models equipped with roller bearing side rods. They are the absolute best!!!!

Well they started off as COVERS but you are right, ... not anymore.

Alan, ....I can’t thank you enough for putting your time & effort into this project,...only to turn around and re-design them,....most mortals would have given up, .....fantastic effort, .....

Pat

AlanRail, Looks Awesome so for. However, and please understand I am just trying to help here, because it is amazing what you have done, but I have just done some research and I believe that these nuts are not a star shape, but they are are what is called a Slotted Hex Nut. Slotted hex nuts are nuts with portions cut out designed to be used with a cotter pin to create a locking mechanism. I have included the best picture I could find of the Niagara side rods, and a Picture of a Slotted Hex Nut.

@Tom 4 .....the image you posted of the Niagara’s roller rod bearings is a copyrighted photograph,.....remove it please!....nothing kills a thread quicker than a copyright infringement......please read the TOS for more information,.....

Pat

Sorry, wasn't thinking about that being an issue. Just trying to share some findings.

Well, if anyone has the book "Know Thy Niagaras" page 19 has the best picture of the Side rods, and you can see the Slotted Hex Nuts.

Tom, Alan has that photo.

Pete

@Tom 4 posted:

Sorry, wasn't thinking about that being an issue. Just trying to share some findings.

Well, if anyone has the book "Know Thy Niagaras" page 19 has the best picture of the Side rods, and you can see the Slotted Hex Nuts.

No worries, glad you pulled it down, ....the cops don’t discriminate, they just up and snatch the entire thread .....they don’t have the time to weed out individual posts/replies,.......it is a very helpful pic, and as Pete mentioned, it’s already in the hands of Alan, ....now the useful thread can carry on,....😉.....

Pat

I am not absolutely sure of this, but I believe the proper nomenclature is crankpin caps.  I am sure we could check that, but not tonight.

@Tom 4 posted:

AlanRail, Looks Awesome so for. However, and please understand I am just trying to help here, because it is amazing what you have done, but I have just done some research and I believe that these nuts are not a star shape, but they are are what is called a Slotted Hex Nut. Slotted hex nuts are nuts with portions cut out designed to be used with a cotter pin to create a locking mechanism. I have included the best picture I could find of the Niagara side rods, and a Picture of a Slotted Hex Nut.

Commonly referred to in the steam locomotive industry as a "Castle Nut" because it is "castellated" for the cotter keys. .

I added the center threaded rod. So from above both look like the star shape i modeled.

@Hot Water posted:

Commonly referred to in the steam locomotive industry as a "Castle Nut" because it is "castellated" for the cotter keys. .

ditto in the auto industry as well... usually suspension items, castle nuts secure ball joint's torsion/sway bars, etc.  There are quite a few in my early/mid 80's diesel Mercedes (all 5 of them).