I recently bought a Lionel Long Island RS-3 locomotive from a set breakup, and I've noticed a pronounced wobble as the locomotive runs down the track. Is there anything that can be done to reduce this wobble or is this typical of Lionel Starter set RS-3s and just something I am going to have to learn to live with?
Any advice would be appreciated.
I would check the traction tires to make sure they are in place and not dry or missing first.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
I have a NASCAR starter set engine and it is the most under powered and wbbly thing that I have ever run. I thought it was just the one I had so I bought another with the same thing happening. It seems to be the design so live most likely I would say just live with it. I sold the extra NASCAR engine and moved on.
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I checked the traction tires and they seem to have flat spots and there are other spots that look lumpy, so I think that is making the wobble worse than it would otherwise be.
I'm going to swap out the traction tires and see if that helps. It may reduce the wobble to a point where it doesn't bug me so much.
I don't have that engine but would like one someday.
I have had that problem with an early 70s DT&I 8111 and found that the wheels are not true but the connection between the frame and front truck was very sloppy letting the body lean back and forth more than it needed so I shimmed it tighter and that helped it too.
Just a thought.
I checked the traction tires more carefully this morning and when I turned the wheels I could see that the problem was that the traction tires were not put on properly--they were riding up along the flange in spots and that was what was causing the bumps I saw. Now that I adjusted the traction tires so that they are seated properly the wobble has improved a bit. I've also noticed that the locomotive wobbles less when pulling a few cars, wobbles more when it's not pulling anything.
Also (and this is counter-intuitive) it wobbles a lot less when it is running at faster speeds, wobbles more at slow speeds, so I guess I'll be running it fast most of the time.
Someone mentioned on another forum that I posted this topic on that some of the traction tires for this particular RS-3 literally ARE bumpy and Lionel replaced his traction tires and now his RS-3 runs without wobbling.
Sounds like you are on the right track. Just keep looking closer and it will show the problem. if everything was perfect what fun would it be????
The wobble might be a characteristic if this unit. I have a NYC RS and has a Milwaukee Road RS and they both wobbled - but it seemed to increase with the train length.
Bob Keller
Bayshore, let us know how you make out. I think that it is in the traction tires. Bob, your condition seems opposite of his. I was thinking of buying the LI RS. When I was out at the LI RR Museum last year, I heard some history from a member, who is a big fan of the RS.
John
I've had a Lionel 18807 Lehigh Valley RS-3 on the layout since August of 1996 and no problems, no wobble with it at all. Of course, this is a two-motor version and I think some of recent RS-3's have been single motored - but my experience with other engines with traction tires has been that excessive wobble can be caused by traction tire problems, some flash on the cast wheel that keeps the traction tire from sitting flat, or uneven track..
The other possibilities are that there might be too much play between the trucks and the frame or that the truck bolster might be too narrow.
Mike
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