I have a couple of Athearn GP-60 dummy engines. that shake side to side as they are moving, also they derail while going through turnouts, forward or backwards on the diverging track. How can I fix this?
have you checked the wheels with the NMRA guage (about $11 retail)? that is most likely your problem.
This is one of the first things that I did. I also tried to add some weight, but this did not help. could it be the plastic wheels. They look alot narrower than other wheel sets.
TC; Here's a couple of things to check: <UL TYPE=SQUARE>Look at the bolsters of the trucks, are they level with the car body. As you earlier mentioned check the wheel gage. Try some high quality metal wheels, if you have to borrow them from another well running loco. Also check the fit between the truck and car body is the fit snug, but not binding. [/list]That ought to get you started in the right direction.
TC, May want to consider replacing the dummy wheel sets with 40" half axles from NWSL. I do this on all my dummy units and it improves the tracking of lighter dummy units 100%. Have a good one, Justin May
also check for flashing on the wheel flanges. That can be the trouble too, if the wheel flanges have any flashing on them or even if they aren't the same thickness, on the flange itself this would cause it. Also check your turnouts they may not be to standards as well. The frog most of all I have yet to find a frog that doesn't need tweaked in to run trains smoothly. The flange depth and the top of the frog itself may needed filed down or if its the flange ways file them out to make it deeper. Also see if the flange way are wide enough. If the flange on the wheels haven't got the width they need to pass freely through the turnout it will lift the loco up and derail it. So check for the following: Flashing on the wheel flanges, Width of the flange on the wheels themself, The height of the frog in your turnout, The depth of the flangeways in your turnout, Width of the flangeways on your turnout. If anything needs done to the frog or the flangeways make sure to clean sand everything so theirs no burrs on it. Do this to make sure the frog itself on the rail top is level and smooth. This should always be checked when buying turnouts before their placed on a layout. Hope this helps.... [ 16 April 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ] [ 16 April 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Well I have reduced 90% fo the side to side movement in one of the dummies. I replaced the wheels with Athearn pwr wheels, had to isolate one side. Also replacing the wheels solved the derailing inthe turnouts. I might add some weight and see if that cures the rest of the shaking. Plan on doing the other one soon. Thanks for all the suggestions. [ 16 April 2001: Message edited by: TC ]
After solving the shaking problem with one of my dummies. I was wondering if the problem in the turnouts could have been caused by the thin size of the wheels. After looking at them and finding one with the center broken out, If they had just made them a little thicker, then they would'nt flex as they thru the turn out.
TC, Where did you get the power wheels from? For in your dummie loco's?? And are they metal on one side? I want to add metal wheels and also to addsome directional lighting to my dummies just for the realisum of it. You can contact me at my e-mail address at: yellowstone10@hotmail.com I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks in advanced....
TC, I got the e-mail before I got here, but anyway THANKS. I replied to the one you sent to me and let me know if you understand what I explained in it. I got the older Athearn Dummies with snap in trucks all one piece of slippery machine plastic. No metal contacts in these trucks......
