Aristo motive power versions Here is a short chronology of Aristo diesel production:Aristo FA1 -1988
U25B -
RS3 - 1996
Lil-Critter -1997
CenterCab - 1998
SD-45 - 2001
Dash-9 - 2004
E8 - 2007
GP-40 - 2008 Before 1999, Aristo used power blocks without ball bearings. They have been improved since with better bearings, power pickup, and overall design.
You can identify these older versions by the axles. New blocks have screws holding the wheels to the axles, and these screws are flush with the wheel faces.
Older style have the axle ends protruding from the wheels. There is also an adjusting screw at one end of the motor block that adjusts gear lash.
These older blocks often had problems due to lack of lubrication, the internal universal coming loose, or the case squeezing the bearings and causing too much drag. Disassemble the blocks and lubricate. Check that the universal is not slipping on the shafts. Finally if there is still poor operation, loosen all the case screws one turn. If this helps, then shimming with .5 mm styrene is in order. Try 2 shims in the middle first. You may have to shim more of the case if tightening the screws with 2 shims causes drag again.
Older motor blocks had traction tires. These were eliminated at about year 2000, so you can tell the age of your equipment. Some of the newer blocks also seem to have traction tires.
My opinion is trade the axles out for plain ones, better power pickup and too much traction can cause premature wear if constantly highly loaded.
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Last Updated on Friday, 08 January 2010 03:21 |
Trains 
