Trains.com

224 problems

1443 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
224 problems
Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 4:48 PM

I have a 224 2-6-2 prarrie  Variation B early 1946.  The issue is in the trailing truck. The back part drags on the rail causing a short.  I am wondering if the wheels on it are the wrong diameter letting it sit to low.  I would think it would have been designed to sit higher. Pictures I have seen make it look like it might have a spoked wheel.   The ones on this are smooth.   IS that correct?  what could be done about the short if it is correct? 

Shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 969 posts
Posted by TrainLarry on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 5:05 AM

The trailing truck should not be touching the rails. Are you sure you have the correct trailing truck? Is the truck spring in good shape? See here how it should sit above the rails.

 

Larry

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 7:28 PM

Springs are good.  The truck is the right one. it just sits so it is angled downward and the very back drags the rails.  which is why I am wondering if the wheel might be wrong one.  what is the diameter of the proper wheel to check?   The front part of the truck does sit all the way down on the pin ass it should.  Although as I write this, I wonder if the pin is correct and the right length.  Like it might be short.

 

Shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, February 5, 2021 12:42 PM

I've got a 224 myself, and I've just done some measuring.

(Sorry, couldn't do it sooner.)

What you should have is this:

The frame of the trailing truck should be 1/4" over the railhead.

The trailing truck wheels should be 5/8" across the flats, the flange diameter should be 15/16".

If none of these match you've got the wrong truck.  If they DO match that rear truck is probably damaged or bent, OR, and I just noticed this, there should be clips holding the rear wheels in place, if those clips are missing it could cause the wheels and axle to sit too high in the frame causing the truck assembly to drag on the rails.  The clips are kind of "H" shaped, I didn't try to pull them out. 

So give the rear truck a good look.  Good luck!

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month