Just bought two broadway limited sd40-t they just won’t go around my radius curves they are 24" at the minimum. I have checked my track every thing fine my other SD loco make the radius fine I think I foundn out why the sold them The trucks just don’t seam to turn as much as my other SD any suggestions
The specs. say they will go around a 22"
thanks
When you say won’t go around, do you mean the diesels slow and stop like they are pinched or stuck, or that they derail?
I am guessing that he means they derail.
New or used? I presume used.
Sounds like you need to free up the trucks.
Do they both derail at the same spot?
In my experience, it is almost always the track work, not the loco.
The fact that both of them derail makes me suspect the track work even though your other loco does not derail.
Rich
In my experience, it is almost always the track work, not the loco.
The fact that both of them derail makes me suspect the track work even though your other loco does not derail.
Rich
Usually I would agree with your assessment of faulty track.
But…
In this case I suspect the trucks are binding causing the locomotive to leave the rail.
I would check the truck swing for blockage or warpage and the wheel gauge…
Larry,
I agree that from the OP’s description, it does sound like the trucks need to be looked at first. But track work is a close second. It is an “either or” situation.
One other thought might be to swap the trucks from his third good loco, if it is easy enough to remove the trucks. See if the two newly acquired locos run with known good trucks without derailing.
Rich
Hi,
I agree, the problem is likely with the freedom (or lack thereof) of the trucks and trackwork.
When the OP says 24 inch radius, I assume the curve is with flextrack as opposed to sectional track. With that assumption, its possible the radius is not really 24 inch all the way around.
Another possibility is that we have seen various times where manufacturers quotes of the minimum radius capability of locos (or longer cars) isn’t necessarily so.
For what its worth…
It is possible that the OP’s track work is the culprit. However, I had a similar problem with a BLI steamer and it turned out that the front truck was installed backwards. (I’m VERY fastidious about my track work.) Once I turned the truck around, the locomotive was happy as can be and no derailments.
With that said, if the SD40 trucks are binding somehow, it could be a wayward pickup wire that’s causing them not to rotate fully.
Tom
Other thing I would check is the coupler height. If the pin is to low, it could be catching on something.
Cuda Ken
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions I will start with the Trucks them move on
Yes they are used and the only Broadway limited Diesel that I have hope something works
Came home and opened up the shell on both this is the problem with buying used you just don’t know any both loco had the pickup wire coming from the truck and it was placed so it blocked the truck from turning all the way moved the wires and all is great
thanks
Called it! What do I win??? [(-D]
Tom
OK, cool, so the problem was solved.
But, as Tom suggested, were the trucks installed backwards?
A problem from the factory or did the original owner mess with the trucks?
The OP seems to be blaming his seller.
Rich
You win a cookie.
Is that cookie already enabled, Motley? [swg]
Not really blaming the seller just saying be ware of used equipment
Glad it was a easy fix
I didn’t mean to focus on the seller or the fact that it was used.
What I wondered is whether the trucks were installed backwards at the factory, as Tom suggests.
Rich
Yes,you win second place cookie as pictured …Sorry! [:O]
My entry at 5:49 AM:
Usually I would agree with your assessment of faulty track.
But…
In this case I suspect the trucks are binding causing the locomotive to leave the rail.
I would check the truck swing for blockage or warpage and the wheel gauge…
Of course…The old “sneak-it-in-there-in-the-weeeee-hours-of-the-morning-before-Mr. Stage-wakes-up” trick. Missed it by THAT much!!!
I believe that the OP already said that he had found the problem…pickup wires restricting truck motion. Maybe that post was covered by one of the cookies?
Actually I made that reply at 5:49 am…I was teasing Tom about his “first place cookie” for nailing the problem and copied it in my reply to Tom.[(-D]