Replacing rubber drive bands

 Maintenance of a GéGé locomotive. 

Rubber drive bands.

The most common problem of a GéGé locomotive is the breakdown of the rubber drive bands. This happens when the rubber is dried out or stretched to much. The new replacement bands from silicone tend to melt. Not often during running sessions but most time after a storage period.

But fortunately they are easy to replace. First open your locomotive by taking of the body. 

We have to take out the axels, one by one and put a replacement rubber band. Here you have two possibilities, to buy a silicone replacement part on eBay (courroies in French) or to buy rubber bands. The last one is the cheapest and for me the best. The rubber bands have a diameter of 20 mm. I bought 1 kilo of  rubber bands for 12 euros. The silicone bands will cost you 10 euro’s for 6 bands.

Clean the axels very precisely because residue left behind will destroy the new ones, then fit the new rubber bands, take care that they are all the same way around on the long shafts connected to the motor.  

If you do it the same way as in the picture it will be all right. Lubricate all the bearings and the locomotive is ready for the railway.  For the manchons , the connection between motor and drivingshafts , the easy way is to use the isolation from massive 220 wire. Maintenance of a GéGé loco is cheap and easy.