Dear Shaffer, Suggest using

Upgrading Blue boxes

I think the thread that the Professor wants you to read is  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/polish-those-athearn-wheels-12195538

That would definitely be a good start. 

Another question would involve the age of the models - there were two major subdivisions of blue-box models, those with inside journals (metal sideframes) and those with outside journals (plastic sideframes). 

To add to the fun, they have also changed their universal gears since then as well, and I have no idea how interchangeable the two systems are. 

Blue Box vs Genesis models

The Blue Box models as Jeff S refers can be best identified by looking at the side frames.  If they are metal, then you have "outside journals".  If they are plastic and pop of easily, then you have the more modern "inside journal" system.  The Athearn RTR series is 100% compatible with the Blue Box era kits that have the "inside journals".  The Genesis line is a completely different  drive system that is much more like Atlas, Kato, and others that are of Chinese origin.  

As the Professor and Jeff Shultz pointed out my thread on polishing Athearn wheels.  Yes this is a very good place to start.

Here is the link to the main video I made. 

​Please note that this channel is no longer active as it is a legacy channel.  I unfortunately have no access to add or edit any of the videos.

JOND5 on Ebay

My recommendation is to do a search on ebay for a seller JOND5. I've used his mounts for attaching a Kato HM-5 can motor to a blue box GP with great success. He has a BB switcher mount for the Kato HM-5 that looks like a very successful install.

ChrisP