I have been Bi–hing about my Big Boy Tender String with a modest load for a Big Boy (15 free wheeling cars) for some time now. I pulled the Tender shell and added around 2 OZ of lead to the bulk heads and now have apx 1 OZ sitting on top of the tender shell. It is pulling 27 cars with no string around the loan 18" turn.
Tonight I had to replaces the Bachmann spring coupler on the tender. While on the track for checking the coupler height I happen to roll the tender. It rolled like an Tyco with warpped plactic axels![:O]
Alexls are spring loaded and do not ride in the boosters. Any idea to make the wheels more free wheeling?
Are there spring-loaded electrical pickups on each of the tender trucks that cause them to drag? My Proto 2000 0-8-0 tender has a pretty stiff drag to it. My BLI 2-8-2 Mike does also but not quite as stiff. You might be able to loosen them up by backing off the screw that holds down the pickup spring.
You might consider replacing the wheels with LL wheels sets…but I think the issue has to be the 18" curve. This is a Big Boy…one of the largest steam locomotives of all time…with one of the largest tenders ever made…going through 18" radius curves…HELLO! [banghead]
Hello! Its not the tender as much as the added weight and those 18" curves…You are asking a large all wheel tender to go around a train set curve meant for short wheel base engines and cars.No wonder its derailing and now drags like a rock…
Why is it dragging like a rock? Simple my friend that 3 oz of weight is pushing down on the axle springs causing the tender to drag.
Sorry to be harsh but,that Big Boy should be ran on larger curves…Even the UP found that out.
Is it rolling like a brick in that 18" curve, or on the straight? If is rolling like that on the straight, you need to check the power pick-ups and see if they are dragging, check the axles to see if they are the culprit, and check the truck bolsters to make sure they aren’t binding. A little graphite as mentioned above, will go a loooooong way to making things roll easier. I usually mix a little KD lube with alcohol and then apply right where I want it with a toothpick and it works pretty well.
Guys,ALL the oiling,new wheels ect in the world will not help that tender…Removing that 3 oz weight and operating on larger curves will.That locomotive was NEVER BUILT to operate on such tight radius curves.Terrie Gibbs,Ronnie Milsap and Stevie Wonder can see that.
It is NOT the tenders fault its being use on toy like 18" curves!
What isn’t immediately obvious is that the five rigid axles of that pedestal tender have a longer total wheelbase than the two eight-coupled engines of the Big Boy. As for rolling qualities, adding too much weight will definitely not improve them!
As Brakie implied, when UP ordered the first Big Boys from Alco, they immediately began realigning the track they would be used on. You might consider doing the same - or restricting the territory yours can run in (also prototypical for the class.)
[#ditto]I assumed Ken was talking about the tender dragging in general, not necessarily on the curved sections. That’s why I mentioned checking the tension of the truck pickups.
I use it all the time without any problems. I just don’t go over board with it and make sure I blow any extra off before it hits the rails.(works for me [:)])
It will be the flange surface that causes most of the friction, so has anyone thought about/actually tried using a hard wax on the flange faces of short sections of tight track? The wax, if applied carefully, and then the tire surface cleaned, should stay put and will help to ease the flanges as they try to roll through. It works on better furniture.
I wouldn’t think the 18" turns or the extra weight would matter too much when it’s sitting disassembled (on a work bench I’m assumimng) and the axles aren’t spinning freely.
Hum, it draggs like a brick on a test track that is straight I use to clean the wheels. It is 3 foot and if I give the tender a good push it moves 4". Now by good push I do not mean like I am trying launch the tender in to outer spaces.
OK, I just did a test. Placed my test track at a 12% grade. (mounted on a 2 X 4) and sat the Big Boy tender on it! Sat there like the brakes are on? Next I grapped my BLI Class J tender that is stock and lighter than the Big Boy’s. It rolled with no problems.
I know that the 18" turn is causing the string that is a given to a point! It is the number of axles and the flanges that is causing the string. (they do not contact the boosters and have around 1/4 inch of play I will add)
One of the few things you kind folks taught me is a hard pulling rolling stock rather it be a 50’ Reffer, 40’ box car or Big Boy Tender will cause string, bigger radius turn helps but a Brick Is A Brick!
Bottom line, I have a Class J BLI, M1a BLI and a BLI Hudson that will out pull a Big Boy and that is just not right. They as well pull the dragg around the same to small turn. Yet they can still dragg more freight on the 19’ straights and use 2/3 of the power.
So forget the 18" turns, they are not the issue of this question.
I will open the tenders bottom and check the power pickups Tom and others that said to check them.
Okay Ken, you are doing good. Simple problem; wheels do not turn freely. Step one, flip her over and figure out exactly which axle(s) don’t spin freely. You can fix this because something is definitely wrong.