292 Steps to Rebuild a Berkshire

jasonsobczynski · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:30 am

hamster wrote:

Can you tell me how you went about determining the condition of the roller bearings on the drivers? Looks like they are inside a pretty permanent housing. Did the roller bearings need any service? I have heard that Timken is completely out of that kind of business and there is no one left who can service locomotive rollers. I ask because the ATFS 2925 group in Albequerque will probably be facing that kind of inspection soon.

Really enjoyed ALL of your photos!

The housing on this version of Timken roller bearings is actually a split housing held together with a number of taper fitted bolts. To inspect the roller bearings one "cracks" the housing open and has either a competent, experienced individual go through the bearings. Inspecting condition of rollers, races, cages and checking the lateral adjustment.

An issue that does develop with roller bearings (as counter intuitive as it may seem) is that of flatspots developing from extended periods of sitting while under load. One can test the oil and do a scope inspection through the plug hole in the case but only a visual inspection with the boxes dismantled allows for identification of such problems.... that, or you can put them in service and then find the problem once bearings begin to self destruct.

The 2926 folks have been delving into roller bearing inspection of the rods. Here is a link for some of the rod work which started near to the early part of last year. If you go back to the main photo page and look a subsequent updates many nifty photos can be viewed.

http://www.nmslrhs.org/images/photos/1-29-11/index.html

Cheers, Jason

gmray · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 9:34 am **Posts:** 382

Mr. Wilkins is correct.

The "bump-out" portion of the smokebox front for both engines was made from a pattern that TVRM had made. A donut was then welded to it to make the front the correct diameter for each locomotive. The doors were spun from flat plat by a company that the late Glenn Brendel selected.

nathansixchime · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:03 pm **Posts:** 948

j32885 wrote:

Thanks for posting about "How To Rebuild A Berkshire".

I was under the impression the NKP 765 rebuilding was over a 12 year period starting back to 1993 then to 2005.

The serious rebuilding only really began once the FWRHS was able to secure a historic landmark designation status (1996 or thereabouts, I just put all of these dates in our forthcoming souvenir book) and transportation enhancement grant for the locomotive in the early 00's. Between 1993 and 2000, the FWRHS operated a few trips with MILW no. 261, and restored C&O no. 2716. It was decided once the 2716 was returned to KVRM that any further work or money raised would be dedicated to the 765.