Problems with 2-10-2 and 2-10-4 Locomotives

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
41

Marlon,

Regarding that shim that you slide under the point rails on Atlas Custom-Line #6 turnouts.

Are you saying that you place the shim all the way across the track, under both stock rails, to support the point rails?

Rich

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Rich, I am also an astronomy buff with a fairly large telescope, and I have a super-zoom bridge camera and image-stablized Canon 18 X 50mm binoculars. I am a magnification nut.

Unfortunately, and more to the point, I am also essentially an aging male about to turn 60. So, for me to succeed at many things in this hobby as a late starter, I need all the light and magnification I can get. Think big! [swg]

When I was asked this question by my LHS guy, I immediately opted for the 2.75 (LX-7) lens. It was a wise choice. I use it to spot aphids on my plants, to do details repairs on my rolling stock, and even to locate those tiny no-seeum sharp shards of dried Douglas Fir sap that occasionally insert themselves into my skin when I am careless about handlng my firewood this time of year. They hurt! And they hide.

Crandell

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I am sending in my BLI ATSF 2-10-4 today for repairs. I spoke to Larry in Customer Service yesterday, and he was quite familiar with the problem of the excessive lateral movement in the driver wheel sets. I am not sure if that degree of familiarity is good or bad. LOL

He said that the fix is to install a different spring on the trailing truck and either one or two washers to establish better balance from front to to rear of the boiler. This will permit the intended lateral movement of the driver wheels without alowing them to move off the rails.

He estimated a turnaround time of 2 months. I am in no hurry., That troublesome 2-10-4 wasnā€™t going anywhere anyhow.

Rich

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45

Rich, hope it solve all the troubles, I guess weā€™ll find out in a couple months.

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Marlon, while I donā€™t have one of the engines in question in this thread, I do have a friend that is having a minor problem with his Atlas turnouts and your shim idea may be just the ticket for him. Thatā€™s why I sometimes read threads I have no obvious interest in.

Thanks for passing the info along!

Jarrell

47

I just got an email from BLI telling me that the 2-10-4 has been repaired and is being shipped back to me via UPs, with expected delivery next Wednesday.

The email said that a full description of the repairs would be included in the returned package.

I will report back to you on the nature of the repairs and the resulting performance.

Rich

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48

Well, my CPR T1c runs well on very average club track, and is absolutely flawless at home.

The only thing I did to this older brass model is to file as much lateral clearance into the frame as I could. Sounds crazy, but every little bit helps. I weighted the heck out of the pony truck as that tended to have a mind of itā€™s own. Of course, I opened up the tender clearance a bit as well.

Itā€™s a real squeaker around 24" curves, and looks silly doing it, but it does make it through reliably.

In my opinion, especially with older brass, people seem tentative about cutting and filing on their locos. Go slw, and be patient. It took me a month of fiddling to get that 2-10-4 reliable, but it went from being tripped up on 28" curvier to reliably making it around 24"ers. Big difference, huh?

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Well, Iā€™ll be darned. It runs flawlessly.

Incredible.

Here is what Larry in BLI Customer Service wrote for Repairs Performed:

The trailing truck spring was broken along with most of the axle bushing bearing springs. I replaced the trailing truck spring and drawbar. I replaced all 10 axle bushing springs. I replaced the drawbar pin on the tender along with the tether cable. I replaced one broken marker light up front on the boiler. I had to replace the idler gear in the frame since it had damaged teeth. I had to repai

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50

Rich,

Glad to hear of Your happy conclusion to the problem with the 10ā€™s Now park them in the roundhouse and get going on the new layout. SNOW is coming!!! Iā€™m going to try and finish 65ft of double track main line this winterā€¦ By the way my layout is in My attic, along with My bedroom. ITā€™S A finished attic, MERRY CHRISTMAS to You and Yours, Your Friend, Frank

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Frank, good to hear from you.

Letā€™s see some photos of that 65 foot double main line.

And, if you havenā€™t already done so, chime in on the Where is Your Layout thread and record your attic layout.

Rich

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Congrats Rich

I always had very good luck with BLIā€™s repairs. While a lot of people get questionable engines, BLI has always fixed them up proper.

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Oh NICE!!! They finally fixed your locos. Thatā€™s great.

After going through all the trouble, you should just keep them. I mean they running flawlessly now.

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Michael,

That is my dilemma now. Whether to sell them on eBay or keep them.

Now that they run flawlessly, I am not sure if I want to keep them or not.

I would like to trim my steam roster at least a little.

Rich

1 Like