Subject: Spicer Drives (12/27/1991)
[12/27/91] Spicer Drives - When you install the now required HEP system, in order to run on Amtrak, Amtrak prefers that you remove the Spicer drive from the axle. The reason is that these drives are subject to little or no maintenance. Further, the speeds in the corridor are higher than they formerly were. Thus you have a heavy piece of rotating machinery under your car which has the potential for great mischief. This is why Amtrak requests that they be removed, if they are not being used.
One other factor is that replacement parts are getting harder to come by. Indeed, it isn't unusual to simply find another Spicer, which has been taken from another car, and to substitute it for the one on your car. However, it may be the wrong ratio. Spicer 5 came in several models, and also in three speed ratios. The speed ratios were determined by the owning railroad in order to match the usual speeds on that line with the necessary RPM's to keep the batteries charged. So, you could end up with a Spicer designed for a slow road on the corridor.
We have recently had one incident caused by a Spicer drive. However, the problem was not caused by the owner's lack of attention. Instead, it was caused by a shop's failure to lubricate the drive after it had been reinstalled. In any event, you should anticipate that these drives may someday be banned, or the car restricted in speed.
Paul L. DeVerter II
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