Sliding shafts on trucks

[Glenn Brooks]

Looking like 1” diameter shafting...

[kcameron]

I've seen people using auto steering wheel shaft parts. Because of the need to be collapsible and most cases user adjustable, you get this sort of slip action. The junk yard may be a source of useful parts.

[John Hasler]

I've seen people using auto steering wheel shaft parts. Because of the need to be collapsible and most cases user adjustable, you get this sort of slip action. The junk yard may be a source of useful parts.

The tiltable steering assemblies will also have a universal of some sort. Possibly a CV.

[Pontiacguy1]

If you are using this on your 12" gauge stuff, consider using a PTO shaft off of small tractor implements (Category 0 or Category 1). They have replaceable knuckle joints, sliding mechanisms, can be easily lubed, and are probably available used if you spend some time looking through tractor and implement junk yards. You probably couldn't use any of that stuff on 7 1/2" gauge equipment, but since your stuff is a lot larger, it might be a good source for parts, and heavy-duty parts at that.

[Glenn Brooks]

PontiacGuy,

very Good idea. I’ll look around. We are near farm country, so might be something out there.

FYI, just noticed a pair of G-16 trucks on eBay. These have a square shaft sliding drive fitting on the end. So looks like the square shaft was a successful design during the MTC era - they produced around 4,500 miniature train units.

Glenn

[LIALLEGHENY]

Glenn,

I don't believe those are G16 trucks, they are a homebuilt set, but it does give you an idea of what you can do.

Nyle

[Glenn Brooks]

Nyle, interesting. Iam not familiar close up with G-16, so could be why he has had them for sale for over a year. Also, he’s asking $1500 firm, in this condition. It does seem to be a pretty good design.

Here is another screen shots:

Glenn

[LIALLEGHENY]

Glenn,
This is a G16 power truck,

[rkcarguy]

Glenn, you know I'm an auto junkyard scrounger. If you aren't against it, you could hunt down some front drive CV axles and a dead transmission/spindles to scavenge the female splined parts from. You could always use new parts too. The CV axles have some float in them to allow for engine and suspension movement, nice sealed rubber boots, easily replaceable, and should work perfect.
Set up your right angle drives on the trucks so that the pivot point of the CV axles are as close to the bolster pin as possible, and you'd have a bulletproof setup.