Yes, I was thinking along the same lines, using my partner's quilting table. Saves wear and tear on the back and knees!
L
Thanks! I now need to re-install at least one of the turn outs and watch exactly what happens when the K27 rolls over it and then tweek as needed.
LT
Yes, lock 1 and 4. I use nylon washers. Keep trac k of what goes where, remove springs, keep necessary factory shims (especially the one behind the bearing).
I have tried re-springing the back driver to get rid of some of the sag. Somewhat successful. I also add weights to the bottom insude of the smokebox. Stack them on top of the smokebox to know how many you need.
Drivers are usually gauged okay...lead truck sometimes out, rear truck OFTEN way WAY out (narrow, in my experience).
What derails? Pony truck? Lead driver?
Another thing...make sure the tender isn't binding on the back of the loco, and make sure you aren't pulling on the wires. That transmits to the nose of the loco, pushing it off the track.
My "shed" is 1600 LGB for all main and main siding spurs, ecept for the curve on line 2,and 3, and I test mine to go through R-3 (1600) switches in both directions, and it does, every time.
TOC
And thank you for your suggestions - once the rain stops, I'll get to work!
Many thanks for your advice! Yes, it is a 'new' K-27 - it's been sitting in my dealer's display case for some time.
One m,ore point. Where is your turnout located? Your R3 track & turnout is just under 8 ft diameter, which is bare minimun for a K27. Mahe sure that the Engine, tender, and leading wheel set of first car are on straight track before hitting the turnout.
Tom Trigg
I have had much the same exoerience with LGB R3 turnouts, with different engines. I have found the flangeway to be too shallow. As the front wheels climb up the frog they jump over the rail. I had to film my 3 truck shay in high speed camera to identify the problem. (GoPro camera at 60 fps then in edit mode set playback at 10 frames per second.) Take your cutoff wheel and remove some of the plastic at the bottom of the frog to allow clearance for the wheel flanges.Drop some glue or putty into the "V" of the frog incase you cut off too much of the plastic.
Larry,
Several possibilities exist. Not being an afficianato of LGBtrack, R3 has no meaning for me. That said, the K requires a minimum of 8' diameter circles (4' radius) to operate, and it does not like them. I generally don't run mine on less than 10' diameter (5' radius) which is the same as an Aristo Craft or USA Trains wide radius switch.
You state 'New' in your post. The K has been out of production for a fair number of years, so I have to assume that it is either 'new old stock' or second hand and new to you. Either way, the K has some issues that could be affecting it's tracking. First, check the gauge (back to back) of the pony truck. They have been known to be off spec. Next I would lock the side play in the #1 and #4 driver axles. This mod will condiserably reduce the tendancy of the locomotive to 'whip' sideways when the centering spring on the #1 asle normalizes.I show how I did mine here http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/22079/major-k27-overhaul along with other mods.
Another thing that will help tracking is to balance the locomotive front to rear. Mine exhibited a destinctive "butt sag", which reduces the pressure the spring on the pony truck exherts on the truck, allowing it to easier climb the rail and derail. If your loco displays this, there is probably a large open area in front of the motor and stock weights that you can add weight to front of the loco to bring the nose down.
Hope this helps, it sure did mine.
I've just built a 150' garden layout using LGB 45mm brass tarck, including R3 22.5 degree curves. However, my new Bachmann K27 - a fine locomotrive that handles the R3 curves well - derails at the two R3 turnouts (#16050 and #16151), one set for main and the other divergent. Once I removed the turnouts, the locomotive handles the layout fine. Unfortunately, I've lost access to two sidings. Has anyone else had this problem? And found a solution? Thanks for your help!
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