Quote from: Bob G on November 17, 2025, 02:35:47 PMNothing wrong with a brass geartrain in my view, but perceived wisdom has it that brass gears meshing with a brass worm can lead to bad wear on the gear in contact with the worm.

I guess it just depends how much you thrash it. My Minitrix Dock tank suffered horrendous gear wear that way.

Bob G

Brass worm driving a brass pinion gear is certainly not a great idea, as you say, the worm will typically wear over time. I had a number of Farish locos with the "new" integral motor chassis used from circa 1976 which initially used this arrangement. As they wore you could see  brass shavings and a distinct arc in the worm develop, to the point where they would no longer engage with the pinion gear. Of course lubrication helped, but did not fully cure the issue, that eventually happened when Farish switched to plastic/nylon gears from about 1983/4 (but brought about other issues, especially on diesel models - the notorious split gear).

I know you asked the same question on FB, so this is the same answer I gave there

Having replaced so many split plastic gears on various brands of model (not just Farish but also Minitrix, Arnold, Roco, Bemo) I'll try and replace with brass whenever I can get hold of a matching gear.  I had a favourite 3rd party German firm who sold sets for specific European N locos, but not sure if they are still actively producing.

I've only ever come across worn brass where the mechanism's clearly never been serviced and given a little lube, and has been running totally dry for a long period.   I have properly looked after all brass mechs from the 70s still running beautifully smoothly with no wear.

I use Labelle 106 PTFE grease for gear teeth and worm threads.

@Bob G  yeah the old Minitrix 0-6-0T chassis are notorious for wear - not necessarily the gear in the first instance but the axle bearings open out until the axle is floppy and that the causes the gear to wear.

We were down in Beer this summer. Passing through from Bridport to Paignton. We didn't visit because we had nearly been totalled twice by mad drivers on the steep and bendy roads around Beer. It was a case of "lets get out of here, please" from the passenger seat.

Definitely not a lack of tourists in Dorset or East Devon. Perhaps they are chasing the Jurassic Coast experience?

Bob

Nothing wrong with a brass geartrain in my view, but perceived wisdom has it that brass gears meshing with a brass worm can lead to bad wear on the gear in contact with the worm.

I guess it just depends how much you thrash it. My Minitrix Dock tank suffered horrendous gear wear that way.

Bob G

Hi all,

As my motor bogie design slowly progresses with the arrival of the wheelsets, I'm now thinking about the geartrain itself. My supplier has told me that they can't do POM (aka Acetal/Delrin) gears but that brass is no problem - and indeed the M0.3 brass gears on the test axles are beautifully made.

So before I go shopping around for a supplier for POM gears, what are your thoughts about modern all brass mechanisms? Is it anachronistic, or is it viable as a quality mechanism, with precision machining and modern lubricants?

Interested in your thoughts on this, thanks all .

Will.

Steering back towards the thread topic (amusing as the diversion was);

I am gutted by this turn of events.

I have only been a few times (the last being 2015), but each one was a lovely day and it's one of my favourite places in the world.

I am especially concerned I might not get the chance to take my son.

The BHLR is one of the very finest miniature railways in the country, I hope it's got a long term future.

Skyline2uk

Quote from: PLD on November 17, 2025, 11:33:00 AMDear Satan,
Please can I have some GG size dancing girls in Christmas stockings... 

With due apologies to @GrahamB Paul likes his women big e.g. the size of a horse

Dear Satan,
Please can I have some GG size dancing girls in Christmas stockings... 

Point (code 55 electrofrog, large, curved) taken

And suddenly we're talking about dancing girls.........

That's one rabbit hole I didn't see coming   

Dear Pecorama,
Have you considered "adult" themed events? Perhaps after dark?