4-6-0 Replacement Wheelsets

[J Silverman]

Like a lot of owners of Bachmann's 10th anniversary 4-6-0, I've been having trouble with the front wheelset. It just doesn't want to stay on the rails. I saw that Barry's Big Trains has a replacement wheelset available; has anyone tried it? Does it work? Is the standard or prototypical one better?

 Thanks!

 Jason

[altterrain]

I have never had that problem with the ten wheelers but I keep my track well maintained. The BBT replacements are much heavier than the original and track better. Many have "fixed" the original by adding a stiffer spring to adding lead weight - http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips1/big_hauler_tips.html#derailments

-Brian 

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

or just some lead putty, avalable at any plummer4s store, just were gloves.

[J Silverman]

Mine doesn't have that spring, that must be a problem. :P Thanks, I'll try getting a stiff spring and see if it works before getting the new wheelsets.

[kstrong]

There used to be a problem with the front trucks where the vertical post wasn't long enough, so that if the track started downhill, the front truck would hang in the air until the loco was over the hump. They could have fixed that, I don't know. The way to see is to lift the loco by the cowcatcher. If the pilot wheels lift up when you lift the cowcatcher, then you'll want to extend the post a bit (or order one of Barry's front trucks). The post can be extended by getting a short length of plastic tube (Evergreen or Plastruct) and adding it to the very top where the screw goes through. You may need a longer screw, I don't know.

Later,

K

[vsmith]

Be carefull with that new spring. The spring doesnt need to stiff, just enough to excert enough presssure to keep the wheels against the rails, too stiff it will push the engine up off the track.

I have a Barry's pilot mod for one of my engines, I havent added it yet.

I used self adhesive lead weights on another one, but I have one unaltered later Bug Mauler and its been running on my indoor layout as is, stock, without any trouble, backwards and forwards, over LGB switches and up and down my 4% grades.

Are you using Aristo switches? I had nothing but trouble with the pilot wheels derailing on Aristo frogs, so much that I swapped out what Aristos I had for LGBs and havent had a problem since.

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem and got a BBT mod.  Nary a problem since then.  Go for it.

[J Silverman]

Yes, I am using Aristo switches, but surprisingly, the derailments don't usually occur on them. They usually occur on a long, steep, curved section of track I have. I'm changing the trackplan, though, so that will be eliminated. Thanks for your help!

[altterrain]

Check the side to side level on that section of track. I would bet its a bit off.

-Brian