HO Trains - Problems with Late Run Rivarossi Articulated Locos | Buying

HO Trains - Problems with Late Run Rivarossi Articulated Locos

There is a huge difference between the older AHM / Rivarossi articulated locos (for example, 2-8-8-0's, 2-8-8-2's, 4-6-6-4's, 4-8-8-2's, etc.) and the newer versions of the same Rivarossi locos.

The older AHM locos had brass axles with splines and plastic driver centers / metal tires. The newer Rivarossi locos (with plastic driver retainers and exposed white gears) have steel axles with no anti-rotation features. They also have plastic driver centers and metal tires.

I typically drill and pin out-of-quarter AHM driver wheels. I may drill through the tire / driver center / axle and pin it. (Note: I have to be careful that the pin is short enough to prevent a short between the brass axle and the metal tire.) Alternately, I may drill through the driver center at an angle and then into the brass axle. Then I insert a pin. This works pretty well.

On the other hand, many of the drivers on the newer Rivarossi articulated locos simultaneously go out of quarter. I generally drill into the driver center and then the steel axle. However, I had more trouble with drill bit breakage when working with the steel axles.

I have also noticed that the grease in the late-run Rivarossi loco gearboxes has a tendency to harden.

For the money, I tend to prefer the older AHM / Rivarossi models.

Regards,

ag01