I had two of my M&St.L Atlas RS1 engines out last evening, and started noticing one looked slightly tilted, rear end higher than front. So I thought it might be interesting to see what you all thought. Photo: http://www.train-orders.com/MRR/RS1.jpg The body shell is firmly seated and as it should be, in relation to the frame. Both run and pull equally and well, but the short hood end of the right hand engine is obviously higher. The space between top of truck side frame and frame is definitely more than the engine at left. Anyone ever seen this situation? If so, thoughts on what I'll find when the shell comes off? Boxcab E50
Ken- My first thought when looking at the picture is, I am wondering if the truck is not seated in the frame completely? Ryan
Ryan- I had a similar thought, but wondered if that was the case, would it be binding? This truck turns freely and does not show any signs of dropping out. Anyhow, just thought I'd see about getting a few ideas, before popping the shell off later today. Boxcab E50
I'd second the truck, the fuel tank is also tilted up which leads me to belive the truck is somehow not sitting right or the wrong tower. Kevin
Ken- I had a Atlas GP 7 that I converted to DCC some years ago and I had the same situation you are having after I put it back together. I found that the wheels would turn freely and the loco ran normally except that one truck was not sitting completely in the frame. Once I snapped the truck into the correct place it ran and looked like it did the day I bought it. Ryan
I have observed such an "unexplicable" differences in shell height, too, and not always found out why. My impression is that the shells sometimes don't sit so tight, or they sit an a screw head, etc.. What looks real wrong is the short-hood coupler of the left engine. The holding clip might be loose. In most cases I switched to screws instead of that Atlas clip for couplers. If you found the reason for the height difference, please tell us.
I also have two Atlas RS-1s, one Kato and one Chinese. I've had both shells off a number of times, and realized early on that the trucks are difficult to re-install correctly, causing the same tilt as yours. After I screwed up a couple of times, I finally learned how to do it right....good luck. :tb-wink:
You say they both run and pull equally. I doubt it-- at least the pulling part. What sometimes happens by random chance when re-assembling a loco is that a tooth on the main drive gear perfectly lines up with a tooth on the worm and they hit each other and the truck won't mount all the way in it's slot. That appear what you have-- and it has happened to me. Instead, if you rotate the wheels on the truck, while loosening the frames just a little bit--- pop-- it will snap into place as the teeth on said gears pass by each other and fit into their proper slots. The reason I don't think these two locos pull the same is the high riding loco probably is only pulling with one truck. At least that's my hunch.
Shell off, I find one tab for holding walkway broken and missing. But that is on the long hood end and far away from the tilt. While holding that chassis, either trucks down or upside down, rotating motor with a finger all wheels turn. In my foam cradle, after loosening the two frame screws, nothing changed as far as trucks. Will look at it once again, later today. Boxcab E50
Most locos have some play in the trucks......if the truck swivels freely and seems to be pulling normally, I'd look at the metal strips that transfer power from the wheels to the chassis........if these pop out of place, everything works (the wheel points ride on the bottom of the cup vs IN the cup so you still have electrical contact, and the axles will ride in the truck frame) but the "higher-than-normal" contacts push the slack out of the truck making it ride higher than normal. See if the metal contact is sticking up more on that truck........if so, disassemble the truck and put it back together with everything in the right position.
I'd have to agree it looks like the truck. How about taking the same photo with the shell off. You should then be able to see if the frame is higher one end rather than the shell. Cheers, Alan.
