Wobbly PW steamer wheels?

[49Lionel]

I've recently come across two PW steamers (an early 2026 and a 1655) that have wobbly drivers.  Not loose on the axles, just not "true".  In both cases, the pattern of wear on the tires suggests that they have been that way for a long time - perhaps from the factory.  Is that possible?  I'm working on the 1655 right now, and three of the drive wheels wobble a bit from side-to-side and also up-and-down.  I wonder if the axles are bent, but there is no binding at all, even with the mechanism completely removed.  I'm not about to pull the wheels off the axles myself!  Other than that, it runs surprisingly smoothly, and is happily pulling ten PW cars around my layout.

Thanks for you advice!

[Jumijo]

You're not the first person I've heard tell of wobbly drivers on an early 2026. I'd say your options are have a repairshop fix it, or buy a motor assembly.

In my experience, Lionel's 1940's steam locomotives run much smoother and stronger than their 50's stuff.

Jim

[49Lionel]

I agree about the motors from the 40's - just so smooth-running.  That's why I focus my collecting/operating on that period (also I think the cars are nicer - eg. steps on the 6454 boxcars and 6462 gondolas).

Dave

[Anonymous]

Dave,

           My 736 has one driver that doesn't turn true to the frame.  Like you, I was concerned about that.  But if the wheel is tight on the axle, and doesn't cause any binding, it is better to leave it alone.  You could pull the wheel, but you need a special puller, and you would also need a new wheel.  Most wheels are hard to find.  In short, if the wheel doesn't cause trouble, enjoy the locomotive and don't worry about the wheel.

[Frank53]

My 2065 does a mean hula. Replaced all the wheels and axles and it still does the shimmey-shimmey-shake - although not as bad as it was.

My 1946 224 however and 726 run like they are gliding on glass.

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!  Whenever I buy wheels for my Prewar 1688s, Fred will spin them on a axle in a Lathe to check & see if the Running Surface of the Wheels are true. If not, They can cause a engine to waddle like a Penquin. Apparently, Lionel made some wheels back then that did not have a completely round surface where they ride on top of the rail head & this will cause some wobble as well as wheel's that were mounted incorrectly on a axle. Also some wheels actually came out of the die off center just where the Flange & Running surface come together causing some wobble as well. If you buy any wheels. have them checked out first , then proceed from there. Quite a few pre & post war engines had this condition as a result. This reason this was not corrected was that the trains were made for kid's & it was felt that they were less demanding than a Adult Market would be. Today, Wheels are cast & mounted with much more precision than their predesessors were & result in engines that run with vitually no wobble. Hope this helps. Take Care all.

[LS1Heli]

You're not the first person I've heard tell of wobbly drivers on an early 2026. I'd say your options are have a repairshop fix it, or buy a motor assembly.

In my experience, Lionel's 1940's steam locomotives run much smoother and stronger than their 50's stuff.

Jim

You arent the 1st one to notice that. Those magne-traction loco from the 50's and 60's are crap in my opinion compared to the quality, high-end ones of the late 30s and 40s. Late 30s and 40s Lionel steamer mechanics are just so smooth, quiet and reliable not to mention the quality look of nickel drive rods and those awesome baldwin drivers.

Ever see a 224E, 225E, 675, etc run? Just so smooth quiet and none of that harsh "operation" you get with a magne-traction, sintered iron, unrealistic 736,2065,2055,etc.

[Anonymous]

I have a prewar 259e thats waddles pretty well.just about all I have seen have a waddle to them,but I still love to run this steamer

[msacco]

"Those magne-traction loco from the 50's and 60's are crap in my opinion compared to the quality, high-end ones of the late 30s and 40s."

Maybe a tad too harsh?

2046, 2056, and the like are very reliable engines. Maybe a little noisier than their older brothers but.........c'mon this is postwar we're talking about.

and it rules!!!!

 

Mike S.

[trigtrax]

A wobbly drive wheel may have been removed and pressed back on the axle askew. This is more likely than a bent axle. Having the driver replaced by someone with a proper press may fix it.

[lionelsoni]

Here's how I straighten them.  (Please do this entirely at your own risk.)

I remove the jaws from my large bench vise.  I have two (metric) screws that I screw in, in place of the ones removed.  One has a simple flat hexagonal head.  The other I have ground down to less than the axle diameter.  I put the latter on the end of the axle opposite the offending wheel, then push carefully with the other just off center on the hub of the crooked wheel to straighten it.  I push only a little at a time and check my progress frequently.

As needed, I take the locomotive out of the vise and pull the entire wheel out a little to keep it in gauge.  When using a puller, tighten it, but not very much, then tap on the end of the puller with a small hammer.  Retighten and repeat as needed.

By the way, this should work for both PW and PW wheels...;-)