Every firemen that has greased the 6 should recall that one of the driver wheels and one of the pilot truck suspension grease fittings refused to take grease. Those problems have been resolved! Elliot H. and shop supervisor Mike E. fixed both problems. The reason for the inability to pump grease is rather curious and nothing more will be mentioned here.
The many years of going clockwise around the layout in McMillan Park caused the left pilot wheel to wear the flange to a precarious profile leaving the right pilot wheel "as new." With the boiler off the frame, the staff decided to flip the axle placing the "good" wheel on the left side.
Rather than pick the frame up high enough to roll the axle out from the frame, the workers choose to remove the pilot ("cow catcher?") and then remove the axle. With the pilot out of the way, the frame needed to be lifted about a foot versus almost three feet with the pilot in place.
The next few pictures show the front of the 6's frame with the pilot removed.
Shop Super Mike E, Dustin B, and Griffin W discuss the removal of the pilot axle.
With the frame lifted, the axle is ready to be rolled out of its normal position.
A common scene at the MCRR: volunteers discussing the next move.
The bearing boxes from the pilot axle were cleaned for inspection. There was substantial wear on the thrust surfaces but the brass bearing journals were in excellent condition.
Brian B, Dustin B, and Dick D flip the axle, placing the good wheel on the left side of the frame.
Dustin B performs a final inspection of the axle before the bearings are replaced and the axle is rolled into place.
Dustin cleans the frame member that holds the bearing journals in place.
The journals have two areas that contain cotton waste -- a "stringy" mass that holds oil. The oil then drips through a small hole onto the axle keeping it from drying out. Brian B thoroughly soaks a mass of cotton waste before placing it inside the journal box.
Several long bolts hold the pilot in place. Dick D cleans the years of rust off the bolt readying it for installation.
Dick D guides the pilot into place.
Tightening one of the many bolts that hold the pilot in place.
While the 6 repair was being completed, Dustin, Griffin and John (in the background) did some body work on the D-9's cab. Here, Griffin is painting a section of metal about to be welded in place.
After the welding is complete, Dustin grinds the weld smooth.
Griffin cuts some additional material out of the D-9's left side.
Body work is complete.
-steam.airman
