This little tarnished beauty landed on my workbench this past Monday.
(https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/Heisler/Heisler-2.JPG)
(https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/Heisler/Heisler-3.JPG)
But it has a slight problem.
(https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/Heisler/Heisler-1.jpeg)
Cracked coupling cups. A modeler on the HOn3 Group.io was selling it. I bought it with the knowledge of it's short comings. I plan on making new coupling from black delrin acetal resin rod material. I was going to use brass but discovered the way this thing picks up power that all metal parts in the drive train would cause a dead short.
I've started a web page on the fix. I'll post updates here to forum as I progress on this project.
Link to web page.
https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/HeislerRebuild.html (https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/HeislerRebuild.html)
Enjoy.
Bernd
Nice find my friend!
Well, if you're gonna run a railroad, ya gotta know how they tick too!
I'm sure this project will be a repair and not an ongoing sleeper, like
some of my projects. I am fond of these engines. And, I agree with what
Dave said.
Rich
Looking forward to seeing how you do this. Can you drop a reminder here when you update your website?
dave
Quote from: Pennman on October 30, 2025, 09:03:54 PMWell, if you're gonna run a railroad, ya gotta know how they tick too!
I'm sure this project will be a repair and not an ongoing sleeper, like
some of my projects. I am fond of these engines. And, I agree with what
Dave said.
Rich
Rich,
Just what I need another project. I've got enough stacked up to last a couple of life times. I alrready have a Mich-Cal HOn3 shay to go with this heisler. Also have a 4-4-0 in HOn3. Now I need to build a layout so I can have a lumber scene.
Bernd
Quote from: deemery on October 31, 2025, 08:42:59 AMLooking forward to seeing how you do this. Can you drop a reminder here when you update your website?
dave
I'll drop a reminder as I progress on the project here with a pic or two. The full explination will be on the web page.
Bernd
WoW a great find! What a beauty!
Just what I need another project. I've got enough stacked up to last a couple of life times. I already have a Mich-Cal HOn3 shay to go with this heisler. Also have a 4-4-0 in HOn3. Now I need to build a layout so I can have a lumber scene.
Bernd
[/quote]
Make sure you enjoy making trees first before you start a logging layout! That's why I have harbors instead.
;D
Next set of posts have been uploaded to the website.
https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/HeislerRebuild.html (https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/HeislerRebuild.html)
Bernd
Did you make or aquire the universals yet? Can you make them?
Philip
Getting to the parts is complex! But in my ignorance, I'm thinking building replacement cups shouldn't be that difficult. Cut the outside on the lathe. Drill the inside holes, then mill the slots?
Have you tested the motor?
dave
Quote from: Philip on November 07, 2025, 09:52:51 AMDid you make or aquire the universals yet? Can you make them?
Philip
Hi Philip.
Working on making the universal cups. Have to make an arbor to hold the slitting saw first. More pictures soon.
Bernd
Quote from: deemery on November 07, 2025, 10:10:10 AMGetting to the parts is complex! But in my ignorance, I'm thinking building replacement cups shouldn't be that difficult. Cut the outside on the lathe. Drill the inside holes, then mill the slots?
Have you tested the motor?
dave
Dave,
Working on it. I'm up to the slitting. Already told Dave what's happening. Had to order some reamers from Amazon. Discovered that 1.5mm reamer, which I had already, gave a nice sliding fit. I ordered a set of 1.1mm to 1.9mm reamers. When I got my 1.4mm reamer I reamed the hole with that for a nice tight fit. Next I need to slit the first cup I've made. Pics to come soon.
Bernd
Quote from: Bernd on November 07, 2025, 12:22:13 PMQuote from: deemery on November 07, 2025, 10:10:10 AMGetting to the parts is complex! But in my ignorance, I'm thinking building replacement cups shouldn't be that difficult. Cut the outside on the lathe. Drill the inside holes, then mill the slots?
Have you tested the motor?
dave
Dave,
Working on it. I'm up to the slitting. Already told Dave what's happening. Had to order some reamers from Amazon. Discovered that 1.5mm reamer, which I had already, gave a nice sliding fit. I ordered a set of 1.1mm to 1.9mm reamers. When I got my 1.4mm reamer I reamed the hole with that for a nice tight fit. Next I need to slit the first cup I've made. Pics to come soon.
Bernd
What tool will you use to cut the slot?
dave
Quote from: deemery on November 07, 2025, 02:15:37 PMQuote from: Bernd on November 07, 2025, 12:22:13 PMQuote from: deemery on November 07, 2025, 10:10:10 AMGetting to the parts is complex! But in my ignorance, I'm thinking building replacement cups shouldn't be that difficult. Cut the outside on the lathe. Drill the inside holes, then mill the slots?
Have you tested the motor?
dave
Dave,
Working on it. I'm up to the slitting. Already told Dave what's happening. Had to order some reamers from Amazon. Discovered that 1.5mm reamer, which I had already, gave a nice sliding fit. I ordered a set of 1.1mm to 1.9mm reamers. When I got my 1.4mm reamer I reamed the hole with that for a nice tight fit. Next I need to slit the first cup I've made. Pics to come soon.
Bernd
What tool will you use to cut the slot?
dave
A slitting saw. I'm in the process of making an arbor to hold it in the mill right now. There'll be pictures uploaded to my website when I get around to it.
(https://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/Forumpics/roundtoit.jpg)
Bernd
All right. Those two joint cups have been fixed with new ones made on my lathe and mill. I'll be updating my website page in the next week. In the meantime I made a video of it running with the new cups installed. Still needs a little tweaking and a lube job, but it runs nice.
LINK:
Bernd
Good result and cool video! Do you think break-in & lube will quiet some of the gear noise?
dave
Quote from: deemery on November 26, 2025, 11:51:24 AMGood result and cool video! Do you think break-in & lube will quiet some of the gear noise?
dave
Lubed her up a bit with sewing machine oil. Runs a bit smoother. That's not gear noise,that's motor noise and the monkey motion of the valve train. Perhaps a little more running might help. Unfortunatley I don't have an HOn3 layout yet.
Bernd
Very nice work Bernd!! Nice video too.
And glad you stopped it before it went off the end of the track!. ;D
Rich
Quote from: Pennman on November 26, 2025, 05:27:33 PMVery nice work Bernd!! Nice video too.
And glad you stopped it before it went off the end of the track!. ;D
Rich
Thanks Rich. I had one hand on the camera and the other on the reversing switch. Works everytime, well maybe some of the time, well ah......................
B~
Gotta love that vintage noise! My old Mdc Shays rival that!
Good en! 8)
Just added another logging engine to my roster. I now have a complete set of Shay's, Heisler's amd a Climax. I'll have to get the whole family of geared engines together for a family portrait. But first I have to locate some of the family. ;D
IMG1080Climax.JPG
Bernd
Great work! 👍
Too small for me.
What machines do you use? Sherline?
Maybe you've seen my 3/4" to the foot scratch built Shay.
MJinTN
Quote from: labdad on February 27, 2026, 06:58:13 PMGreat work! 👍
Too small for me.
What machines do you use? Sherline?
Maybe you've seen my 3/4" to the foot scratch built Shay.
MJinTN
It's bought. e-Bay thanks to Rich Wolfanger (aka pennman)
I was into building a 1 1/2" scale live steam many years ago. Still have the castings for it.
Basement machine shop: Bridgeport mill, Logan lathe, Grizzly Mini-Mill, Sherline Lathe, Sherline CNC mill. Carbide 3D Shapeoko Nomad3 CNC router/engraver, ComGorw Robo CNC router/engraver, plus many woodworking tools.
Nope, haven't seen your 3/4" Shay.
Bernd
Bernd,
Hope you don't mind me posting these here, but since I found you the steam engines lately, I was thinking I'd like to have the same family on my upcoming layout too. So, now that I am broke this week, here's what I recently purchased. An HO scale Climax, an HO scale Heisler and two HO scale Shays.
Perhaps we can do a side=by=side Family Photo soon! LOL
Rich
Rich you must be planning a large layout!!!! ;D
Jerry
Those last 2 little Shays look great! Have you test-run them yet?
dave
Quote from: Pennman on March 15, 2026, 11:40:24 AMBernd,
Hope you don't mind me posting these here, but since I found you the steam engines lately, I was thinking I'd like to have the same family on my upcoming layout too. So, now that I am broke this week, here's what I recently purchased. An HO scale Climax, an HO scale Heisler and two HO scale Shays.
Perhaps we can do a side=by=side Family Photo soon! LOL
Rich
I'll have to get all my geared engines together for a family photo shoot. 8)
Bernd
Quote from: Jerry on March 15, 2026, 01:11:26 PMRich you must be planning a large layout!!!! ;D
Jerry
Ya he is. he just hasn't figured out how to get the plan past the BOSS! :o
Bernd
Quote from: Jerry on March 15, 2026, 01:11:26 PMRich you must be planning a large layout!!!! ;D
Jerry
Why do you ask this Jerry ?, of course I am, LOL
Rich
Quote from: deemery on March 15, 2026, 04:30:18 PMThose last 2 little Shays look great! Have you test-run them yet?
dave
Thanks for asking Dave, but I don't need to. I bought them both from Brasstrains, from their website, and they both run. The factory-painted black one, has two working lights, two figures, and the drivers are barely used, absolutely no wear on them. An excellent engine. And the unpainted one, has never been run. And that last engine also has interior detailing. It's really a sweet engine.
Rich
Quote from: Bernd on March 15, 2026, 04:52:35 PMQuote from: Jerry on March 15, 2026, 01:11:26 PMRich you must be planning a large layout!!!! ;D
Jerry
Ya he is. he just hasn't figured out how to get the plan past the BOSS! :o
Bernd
Thanks for your input Bernd, but if I go with my plan, slow onward, and at a snails pace,
without making any noise, she won't know about the full-range plan... ;D
Rich
Quote from: Bernd on March 15, 2026, 04:52:35 PMQuote from: Jerry on March 15, 2026, 01:11:26 PMRich you must be planning a large layout!!!! ;D
Jerry
Ya he is. he just hasn't figured out how to get the plan past the BOSS! :o
Bernd
Bernd I thought he was in charge!!! ;D
Jerry
Jerry,
Sure, we can treat this episode like Custer's Last Stand,
I'm in charge just like you are! ;D
Rich
I remember when I was doing HO I detested those slow logging trains.
Today, I really enjoy gear driven steam!
Philip