Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Larry, something similar was wrong with mine, and at least in my case only due to poor packaging, which is very unusual for Karstenīs deliveries.
Mine was shipped without the proper support inbetween the vertical shaft and roof, making it possible for it to lift itself out of place, and knock the sprocket off when bounced around in transit.

Fortunately nothing was broken on mine, so i simply clicked the sprocket back in place...
It now lifted itself upon every second turn or so, to the point where the top bearing was lifted and caught up outside the shaft-tube, which in turn brought it to a complete halt, as it that way lost its connection to the sprocket on the motor.

Karsten is taking photos and sending instructions on how to fix it. I must be getting old 'cause things like this don't seem to bother me too much anymore - stuff happens!

Goes without saying that i was pretty unhappy at that point, so decided to leave it for a day to get done with my growling, before writing Karsten to complain.

Fortunately i went back to get a proper look before i started "bitching", to be able to properly explain all details to him, and by then found an extra aluminum spacer rattling around inside the base as well.
Swiftly realised that it belonged straight above the bottom sprocket on the vertical shaft, to keep the entire thing from being able to lift itself, and since it was installed it has been working flawlessly.

I did write Karsten later on, and told him about my problems, in order to avoid the same mistake on future shipments.

Karsten is taking photos and sending instructions on how to fix it. I must be getting old 'cause things like this don't seem to bother me too much anymore - stuff happens!