Problems keep mounting with these coalporters. Turns out I have a problem with another of the coalporters. I started running a train around my test track (made up of Kato Unitrack). I quickly realized that I have one coalporter that will always derail when running through the the straight section of a #6 turnout. It doesn't matter which turnout, I have four on my loop. Whenever the car goes over the frog, the forward truck derails. It's derailing when moving across the straight part of the turnout: I don't have many cars (just starting out), but this is the only car I have any problems with (I have five working IM coalporters, one IM flat car, two atlas cars, and six Kato miscellaneous freight). First thing I did was check with the NMRA gauge, and it shows that the wheels are in gauge. The only thing I think may be wrong is that the front of the truck isn't able to rock up... the coupler box is bottoming out on the underside of the frame. Could this be the problem? When I check with the other coalporters, the trucks do seem to rock up and down slightly more. What else could be a cause of derailment?
Yes, if the truck is not fully free in motion, that could be causing the problem. I would check to make sure the king pin is not pushed down too tight, which will push the truck closer to the under body. Also, check gauge again, and make sure the wheels are centered in the slots (not just "in the slots"). Good luck
Well good news, got a very speedy email from Intermountain and they will be sending me a new axle! As for the derailing issue, I took both trucks off, and fiddled a bit with them before putting them right back onto the car. Seemed to help, especially since the trucks could now rock up and down a bit more (not as tight). However, on running the train slowly backwards through the curved part of a Kato #6, I noticed yet another of the coalporters suddenly jammed hard on the frog. I also often heard a slight metal on metal sound. Closer inspection showed me the real problem on these coalporters! It's the coupler pins that are too low and are catching on the rails on the frog! Now that I know what to fix, everything should be much smoother from now on. On the up side of all this, I know know how to replace an axle, how to remove a truck, and how to check for the coupler pin height! Might seem trivial, but when starting out, these little things don't seem easy!
Most knowledge comes from experience. Most of us knew nothing when we started and have learned along the way (hopefully without destroying anything expensive)
