HELP! Docksider derailing gondola?

[Brutus]

Hi guys, can anyone help with this problem?

My Animated Halloween gondola keeps derailing - always going off on the same side, right after a turn.  It's a right hand turn and the gondola goes off to the left side of the track (outside), so I think maybe the spring action on the docksider coupler is too tight?  Anybody else have this problem, and if so what is the solution?  Can I adjust the spring?  The catalog and website both stated that this car will work on O-27 and when I just move it by hand, it has no problems.....

[Jumijo]

Is the Docksider pushing it or pulling it, Jim?

[Brutus]

Pulling.

[Jumijo]

See if you can slightly loosen the rear coupler on the loco to give it more play. Also, try oiling it.

[sessal]

Jim,

My C&O Docksider, purchased last Friday at York, developed the same coupler swing problem after a few minutes of running. Both front and rear couplers became "stiff" and would not return to the center position, causing any car pulled or pushed by the engine to derail around a curve.

First I tried loosening the screw with the coupler still attached the engine, and that didn't fix anything. So I removed the two coupler mounting screws, and by some trial and error (I'm not real technical, please bear with me), managed to get the center screw (the one in the coupler spring) to the proper adjustment that the coupler now pivots freely, ending derailments.

My unit did develop another problem, however, in that the reverse unit has quit working and the engine is forever locked in "forward", which I guess is better than being locked in "reverse". I plan to call Lionel about this issue next week.

Lou

[Brutus]

Thanks - I'll play with it in a couple hours and let you know.

[Brutus]

okay, so you loosened the two small screws that (looking down at bottom) are just behind and below the coupler part?

[sessal]

Jim,

Yes, those two screws.

Lou

[HopperSJ]

Jim
My docksider has always derailed certain cars. Most often it is while pushing, but occationally while pulling. The spring loaded couplers are just a little more stiff than my truck mounted ones. I find if the car is empty or light it will derail. I just place something on my flatcar and the problem goes away. I am eventually going to weight all the cars with a few ounces of fishing weights (or something similar). I just have't gotten around to it. sessal's problem seems to be a bit different than mine, as my couplers have always moved freely, just with a powerful spring. A tad bit of weight does the trick!!!

[Brutus]

I've got another gondola that we are putting finishing touches on - I'll throw some weight in it and put it in line next after the loco and see what happens.  I've got some Lionel lubricant around here somewhere as well.  If that doesn't do the trick, I'll have to find a proper screwdriver.  We don't have one this small!  Thanks for the info guys!

[jefelectric]

Come on Jim, you can't be a train guy without a set of small screw drivers.

Seriously, Sears has some nice ones either singly or in sets.  Not to expensive either.  Bought a set of 10 for 21.95.  I think they are $3+ singly.

[dougdagrump]

Jim, I put my new C&O thru it's paces last wednesday and today, ran like a champ. Wednesday it was run off & on with some tankers as relief engines for the primary train. Today it saw a lot of runtime taking turns with the Transylvania 4-4-0 pulling the halloween train.

My only problem was a bent siderod , new out of the box.

When I run it backwards I refer to it as the Poor Man's CabForward.

 

[49Lionel]

The only time I have a problem with my docksider is when it's running backwards, pushing cars through an 027 turnout.  The cut-out for the coupler limits how far it can swing just enough to derail a car going through a turnout, but not a regular curved track.  This happens mostly with lighter cars.  Other than that, it's a great-running loco.

[Brutus]

Thanks John!   I'll stop at Sears on the way home.  Maybe if I tell them Chief sent me, I'll get a discount!  My wife keeps telling me I have every tool known to man, and then this happens! 

So far, I really like this docksider - it seems to be a very nice little locomotive and I even like the whistle, though Chew doesn't care for it at ALL!  No derailing when pulling backwards or pushing forwards, just when pulling (or pushing in reverse) around a curve - so it's definitely that coupler, which seems very stiff and has a strong pull on it.  I got my Copper Range docksider in the mail yesterday, but it's still in the box.  Came with a caboose from a breakdown of that set.  I got a good deal on it and plan to use it as a poor-man's logging train as soon as I can get some log dump cars.  I prefer the PW type with the stakes on the sides to those flat ones, so watching for them on ebay.  I spent all my money for the month and my birthday already though , so that will have to wait until Noremember or Dismember.

[jefelectric]

Jim, I just sold two of those PW log dump cars on ebay about a month ago.  Keep checking as they come up a lot.  Be careful, if they don't use the TCA rating system that ebay has adopted I don't bid as that probably means that they have something to hide.  I love those listings that say "I don't know anything about trains but.......", then you check their feed back and find they have sold a zillion train items.  Anyway one problem is when those cars get a lot of use the side stakes no longer return to vertical due to wear.

[49Lionel]

I got my Copper Range docksider in the mail yesterday, but it's still in the box.  Came with a caboose from a breakdown of that set.  I got a good deal on it and plan to use it as a poor-man's logging train as soon as I can get some log dump cars. 

I have my docksider pulling a string of 6411 flat cars with branches from my backyard cut to 1/4" X 7".  It makes a pretty darn good-looking logging train.  Also, those cars are good and heavy so you can get the loco to smoke nicely!