Ok…i have a problem. And amazingly one i cant seem to correct myself. All this Little Boy vs. Monongehela talk got me talking about Cab Forewards being better…so i pulled my Westside Cab Foreward outta the Display case to run it a little bit. Here is where it gets messy. I havnt run this loco in about 2 years…and when i put it in the display case 2 years ago it was prefect. I have made no changes to my track in that time…nor to the locomotive (like im gonna screw around with a $1300.00 loco HAHAHA). Every time it went around a right hand curve the front set of drives would ride up and over the tracks derailing it. I checked the wheels…all are in guage. Flanges are RP25 and they are riding on Code 70 track. I cant figure out where the problem is. Has anyone else experienced this problem…or have any suggestions for me to try??? Id really like to be able to run this unit. Thanks for your help Fellahs
Brass Locomoives generally require through lubing after sitting for extended periods of time. I would give it a dose of Labelle Light oil and try again.
As for the truck riding problem. I dont really know. My guess is possibly the pilot truck screw is on to tight. Try backing it off a quarter turn and see if that improves tracking.
the oil will evaporate and solidify over time.
it would be an idea to oil all the major moving parts (wheel bearings, pivots on the trucks and rear engine, gearbox if you can get at it)
they aren’t self lubricating like a lot of the modern plastic locos.
neil
Any locomotive that has sat on a shelf for an extended period is going to a little stiff. A lube job, perhaps after a cleaning, and a little run in will probably be helpful.
You could have a mechanical bind also. a part or a burr could be preventing the front truck from rotating in one direction. try holding the locomotive in one hand while manually rotating the front truck in both directions to see if it moves freely an equal amount each side of the centerline. If not or one way binds that could be the problem.
It strikes me that when you packaged your engine for storage you might have jammed the articulated front set of drivers or bent a connecting part. If you feel adept at such repair you MIGHT want to consider taking off the boiler, and removing the motor so the wheels turn freely. Then pu***he engine over a curve and look closely for where the derailment happens to see if any parts touch or bind. It might even be that some part of the valve gear got a litle bent out of shape.
But definitely try the lubrication ideas before doing anything this drastic!
Dave Nelson