Axle wear!

John Morgan

Steam Traction
23 Jun 2011
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Norfolk
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Hi Group,
The rear axle of my Roundhouse Jack after three years of running.
The wear became noticeable after the timing seemed to be out and the loco began to run a bit rough.
A good reason to make sure your loco is cleaned after use.

John.
 
24 Jan 2010
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Porthmadog, North Wales
www.rhoshelyg.me.uk
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It always fascinates me how it is the harder material (i.e. the axle) that wears quicker than the softer material (the bearing). I first saw this many years ago when my Big-Big Train Hymek stripped the teeth off its brass drive gear, yet the plastic teeth driven by the brass gear were fine.

I know why it happens, but have never come across a name for this phenomenon. As the principle advocater of "keep it clean" perhaps it should be called Gorton's Law in his honour.

Here is a picture of the rear crank pins from my coal-fired Jack removed a few years ago and replaced with new items.
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John Morgan

Steam Traction
23 Jun 2011
298
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Norfolk
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Just a thought for those like me that do not have a lathe, the axle bushes supplied by Roundhouse have to be reamed. Next time I will ask them to do this for me.
John
 

taperpin

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12 Dec 2009
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Tony,
The reason why the harder material wears is: the abrasive particles [coal ash and dust] "rolls" into the soft material, becomes embedded and you have agrinding wheel , this is the principle used in making a Lapping tool , it seems counterintuitive that a soft lead bar for instance can have diamond dust rolled into the surface and will then abrade a much harder material.
Ive been working on a Annabell today which has had a vigorous years running and it has wear on the rods etc such that Ive bushed them,but the crankpins are mild steel and unworn!

Gordon.
 

bobg

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3 May 2010
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John Morgan said:
Just a thought for those like me that do not have a lathe, the axle bushes supplied by Roundhouse have to be reamed. Next time I will ask them to do this for me.
John

Reaming can be a simple hand job John. All you need is the correct size hand reamer (not expensive) and a tap wrench to turn it with.

Fit the bushes and ream them as a pair. Always turn the reamer in a forward cutting direction, never backwards, and don't push it in to the bush, let it find it's own way through. It effectively 'scrapes' the excess material away.
 

stevedenver

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24 Oct 2009
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clean machinery is always good!
 

dunnyrail

DOGS, Garden Railways, Steam Trains, Jive Dancing,
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25 Oct 2009
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Have you though of the obviouse solution John, do not run em so much!
jonD