I have several Athearn Micados painted for MEC.  I recently took them out of their boxes after running them at a train show and ran them on the home layout That resulted in some derailments.  Inspection of one engine showed it was leaning to the right when on the track.  I removed the loco off, turned it over and pushed on the drivers.  Some appeared to have the sprung axle bearing blocks hard up -- no spring action.  I took off the bottom plates and sure enough it appears some of the springs are "crushed".  Not sure how that appened since they were transported in their original boxes and no problems at the show.  The Athearn assembly diagram for the Mikado does not provide any part numbers, and Athearn website shows no replacement springs.

 

Bottom line I need/going to replace all the springs in all the Mikes  I have read online to use Northwest Short Line springs.  Thank goodness NWSL is still in business. There are a number of different wire sizes (.007", .008" & .009" wire diameter ), inside diameter(ID) and spring "ratings". I assume the spring size should be 1.5 mm ID, 4.0mm long and "Medium" rating, but not sure of the wire size.

 

What has others used for the size of the springs from NWSL?

 

Thanks

Ed