I was sent this Rivarossi Berkshire a while back and after testing it discovered that it didn't run. Thought it would be interesting to open it up and see if we could find the problem and I'm pleased with the results.
A lot of Rivarossi engines use that gearbox in the body. For whatever reason when they sit a long time the bearings tend to lock up to the shaft, maybe some galvanic corrosion. Once you free it up and lube it they're okay but they need to be run at least every few months. I had a Big Boy with the 1971 receipt in the box, looked like it had never been run, and I had to open it up and free up both gearboxes in it. After that it was fine, it ran pretty smooth.
That tender is from a slightly uncommon Scullen Hudson number 5442. It has a gray boiler front and a Redbox mechanism. There is one up on eBay right now for under 170. Cool engine though!
Great! When I went to Poggies train, I found a Black widow sd9, a few athearn blue boxes and a few steam locomotives. I eventually bought a proto 2000 black widow sd7 for 80 dollar along with an Intermodel car for 10 dollars and a tank car for $5. The prices there weren’t the best, but at least it’s better than EBay.
I have 3 locomotives that doesn't run anymore. they never got cleaned or serviced, but they do make a little bit of noise when I turn the power on. I think cleaning and lubricating them will bring them back in their young ages ! Good to see you trial and error the problem so I have an idea how to proceed. Cheers
I have had a few of these over the years. Most were great runners. The only one that gave trouble turned out to have a curved shaft between the motor and the gear box. After tries at getting it straight were not satisfactory I just replaced it with a piece of brass and a couple of small pieces of rubber tubing at each end. Worked extremely well. I hoped to get a replacement shaft but life got in the way and I never did. Other Rivarossi engines I had mostly worked OK but those 3-pole motors worked against good slow-speed running. I replaced a couple with can motors which improved things greatly but it is often a big or impossible job on some models.
I have two locomotives that have developed problems and no longer run. I've tried diagnosing and fixing them but have had little success. Gonna have to send them out for repairs if I can find a hobby shop that'll work on them.
You are fortunate. Your Berk has the superior round can Riv. 3 pole motor from the 70's. Mine had the problematic old 50's ball-bearing motor. it would run fine for about a minute, then start to overheat and lose power. 5 minutes in and it would completely stall with smoke off the armature windings (obviously a short). I've taken a few ball bearing motors apart, and don't ever want to again. Getting the ball bearings to stay in place re-installing the armature can test anyone's patience. I always wondered how the factory did it. I have newer Riv. steam that uses the round can motor (bronze bushings) and have only experienced minor issues with the brushes (easily fixed). Trouble is, Riv. gear ratios demand high torque at relatively low RPM. But the frame and shell demand a short length motor. Inexpensive new motors that fit, with enough low rpm torque, aren't readily available. Replacing the motor typically requires major re-work of the mounts and drive shaft location.
Boy. Isn't the Berkshire Beautiful. Your restoration are always so entertaining. Nice Video SMT Mainline. P.S. Yay autocorrect finally accepted your name to be SMT Mainline on this device. YAY! Hope you are safe. Nice Video again SMT Mainline.
Good job on the repair. I made it to my local hobby store and came back with a brass sd40-2 that I think has a transmission issue. Hope my repair goes smooth.
That turned out great. Have an old Rivarossi N&W Y6B that ran thru a pile of cat puke. What a disaster. Took forever to clean and the tiny spring loaded wheel contacts were kaput
Hey SMT it’s me Fish_and_model_trains I will warn you that Berkshire it’s boots and screws that hold on the rods come undone very easily so you kinda have to keep on top f it, but other wise great video keep it up, who knows I might send more!
My friend put dcc in his rivarossie Berkshire it looks really good at slow speed I have a picture with my polar Express and his Berkshire side by side he has the centennial limited 759
A bit over-engineered like most old Rivarossi locos, and I never understood why they wee so obsessed with that motor the they had to squeeze it every loco they could. And maybe i'll to disassemble my Altaya SNCF 321 E loco again (Ex Rivarossi tooling with new motor and mechanism by Spain), but I'm afraid that the glued in cab detail is what holding the body by the motor!
Use blue loctite on those crankpins asap! AHM Rivarossi's are well known for dropping crankpins and jamming the rods! If you're going fast it will bend the cranks and could potentially trash the drivers. Ask me how I know!
Nice video. I’m a s gauge guy. However I have one lone HO diesel. It’s a old atlas alco S-1 switcher with a Kato drive. Your video has me wondering if it runs.
From what I understand he gets sent to them as Fanmail most of the time or from stores, and occasionally he gets them on line… But that’s just what I know, but SMT Will probably reply to you soon enough though...
If you're talking about the extra water can usually seen on steam excursions I want to say Bachman might have produced to go with their N&W J 611 about 20 years ago. Might be able to find one on The 'Bay
You could improve low speed operation on this by replacing the long plastic driveshaft with the thickest brass rod you can fit, it will act as a flywheel.
Smt have you ever heard of Storbridge lion One of the first steam locomotive in North American It can on the old gravity railroad tracks, I live nere the tracks
