Where can I find this truck or axles? OMI/UP M10000

There’s a person on eBay selling lots of OMI parts. If I remember correctly, my friend told me this person was the owner of OMI. You should email them thru eBay and see what you get

Have you tried pulling the rear motor out just to see if the front motor alone will pull the train?

If it comes down to 4.5mm axles and new wheels I can probably help you out.

Jay

Jay C posted:

If it comes down to 4.5mm axles and new wheels I can probably help you out.

Jay

Jay,

Could you help me? My last resort would be to take apart the gear box from Overland/OMI and run the axle in free mode with their gears showing. However, I'd rather go with a new set of axles (insulated on one side). Let me know what you can do.

Thanks

Yves

Yves,

With the motor and gearboxes removed, will the truck look just like the one in your photos?

I ask because it appears the bearings slide onto the axles prior to installing the last wheel.  If so we could make new 4.5mm axles or machine bushings that would allow for smaller diameter axles.  The bushings might be the easiest way to go.

Jay

Jay,

Yes, the journals have to be installed as well as some insulating washers. If you can provide me with a pair of axle (4.5 mm) with their 33 inches wheels that would be terrific. It would allow me to keep the gearbox and wheels as one piece, for future use. You could send me the axles with only the metallic wheel side inserted and I would do the plastic/insulating side insert myself after sliding on the axle, all the necessary hardware.

Otherwise, I will simply use the two axles shown (above) with their gear and bearings. 

Yves

Yves,

I'll see what I can come up with for you.

Jay

Jay,

Before you spend too much time on this let me share my thoughts. I was really hoping to find a lead for a replacement truck.

With replacing only the axles, I still have to butcher the existing truck, collect the bearings from the existing axles and mount them on the new ones.

After agonizing about it, I think I am going to use the two axles I have (with the gear and bearings) and mount them in free running mode, without the gear boxes. I figure with the fairings on each side of the truck, it will not be possible to see anything from outside. If later on I find that the train is too weak and cannot climb the slopes, I still have the capability to install the second motor (pusher) in the last unit of the consist.

Thanks for the offer Jay. You are a precious resource for the 2 rails O scale community and I appreciate that you look into the possibility to modify the existing axles.  

Yves

Yves,

That sounds like a viable plan.  We can always go with "Plan B", or whatever, down the road.

Thanks!  I enjoy helping, when I can.

Jay

Check with Bill Davis (American Scale Models) for a full replacement truck, as he's the one that bought up the old OMI parts inventory.  And don't just look at the inventory on his website, actually call or email him.  He has lots of stuff that isn't listed on the website.

Not that anybody cares, but I thought I would close the loop on that request.

I ended up keeping the original rear truck (factory motorized) and removed motor and gear boxes. The axles have the bearings and gears in place, but it is almost impossible to see them when the unit is assembled. It will become even more inconspicuous with the truck covers.

The train is only powered by the front truck (like the prototype) and after re-motoring and adding some weight on the nose of the locomotive, it runs very well and very smoothly. It will start from stop to motion on a 3% slope and reached 100 Scale MPH on Jerry's layout. All four trucks are electrically connected (two by two) and provide excellent pick-up. The chassis are completely insulated from the trucks.

Yes, with a lot of care, these Overland shelf queens can be made to run.

Yves