RDC rubber bands

J

jambo101

Member
Feb 14, 2007
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Montreal
I would like to run 2 older Athearn RDC units but the rubber bands that drive the wheels have disintegrated,i've tried all the sizes i could find at Staples and the dollar store but nothing fits and my local train stores dont stock the appropriate parts:confused: any one got any tricks?
 
I am sure you can order replacements from somewhere. But if you are looking for a stand-in, the rubber o-ring suggestion is a good one. Buy a "variety pack" and see what fits. You may also try browsing the parts drawers at your local ace hardware. They sell all sorts of stuff. Also, belts for electronics devices may work. If you have an electronics parts house near you (probably not radio shack), look for belts that fit cooling fans or tape drives.

Kevin
 
Some 50 years ago, either MR or RMC magazine featured a race in which the rubber-band drive Athearn "Hustler", a four-wheel industrial switcher, clocked in at a record 400+mph!

Once your local train store becomes aware of your need for speed, rest assured that they will not only stock Hustlers, but an an array of scientifically proven rubber-bands!
-Ed
 
I need a piece of advice regarding these Athearn RDCs. I have an Athearn RDC passenger train (1 RDC3 and 2 RDC1s). My parents are offering me to have them replaced with an ordinary Athearn F7A+B and 3 Athearn streamlined passenger cars(Santa Fe roadname). My only concern is to have a 1950's era passenger train running on my layout. So it's a choice between buying a spare motor, or buying a spare passenger train. I have small windows of opportunity in getting HO products since I'm in the Philippines. I think the Athearn RDCs are pretty, but they seem to be not good crawlers and not excellent runners on curves.
 
Jambo,
I just happen to have a couple of RDC's with that had the very same problem. What I used was a few of my daughter's little elastic hair ties. It's a bag full of different sizes that you can find at Wal Mart or perhaps the dollar store and you get a million of them for cheap. There is one of the bands that almost a perfect match to the o-band. I have one unit with the original bands and one with the hair ties and the hair ties are actually way better. Good luck to you and let us know how it turns out.

Tyler
 
RDCs often were added to the end of regular passenger trains. Sometimes because they would be uncoupled and sent down a branch line; sometimes because the RDC was the usual train but they needed extra cars and had to use standard equipment.
RDC warranty was void if they were used to pull cars.
 
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