Glad you found the problem.
Enjoy
Paul
EXCELLENT!! A simple solution to the problem. BILL
IronRooster was right - the wheels are out of gauge - they are too close together, so when they hit the frog area, one wheel jumps up. It does not look like the flanges are too deep or too wide, so if I can manage to push the wheels out apart a bit, I may be able to make them work. The trailing non-powered wheels are not a problem even though they are the same shape of flange - because they are split in two pieces, allowing them to move apart and closer together as needed.
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There is another way if you want to go that route? Greenway products has drivers in all kinds of sizes and styles. There are also replacement wheel sets for non drivers from Jaybee and Rebox. If you really like the locos than upgrade the wheels. Those old pizza cutter wheels are a pain on newer track.
http://www.greenwayproducts.com/index.shtml
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Thanks! I guess there is not much harm trying, since the alternative is parking them :)
I ground the flanges on the Rivarossi Mallet by appling power to the mechanism while grinding the flanges. Use a lite touch on the Dremel and check with your gauge frequently while grinding. Its been a couple years since I did mine and I forgot what I did to control the filings. You might try tying down a vacumn nozzle close to the work and pick up the grindings as they are made. Good Luck. BILL
Paul, I assume when you talk about grinding - you mean the loco wheels - not modifying the switches in any way. You may be right about the depth - It may be that the wheels are bottoming out on the frog. I'll need to look more closely - my eyesight is not what it used to be - even with my glasses.
If I grind the wheels - I would need to be sure to keep them round - I wonder if grinding them on a bench grinder while applying power to turn them would be the way to do it. How would you prevent filings flying into the motor magnets?
From your description it sounds as if the problem is the wheels are out of gauge. Check them with an NMRA gauge and regauge if necessary.
Also check if the flanges are too wide and won't fit through the flange ways or they are too deep and are bottoming out in the flangeways. If so then some grinding may help. Do this slowly and check frequently with an NMRA gauge.
Yeah it's a shame to park them, but they don't run as smooth as the new ones for sure. The Peco frogs are pretty narrow - that is the problem...
I have a bunch of old Rivarossi stuff from back in the day and they are all in service on my new layout as dust collectors. They were never really good running engines to start with do to the old style wheel flanges. They run their best on code 100 so I don't know what the problem would be maybe wheels out of gauge perhaps. I would shelve them and buy new equipment.
I have a couple of old Hornby/Triang locos - from the 1970's that I will not be using a lot, but had hoped to be able to use on my layout. I am using Atlas Code 100 track, and they work fine on that, but I am also using Peco switches and the wheels on the equipment are slightly too large and they catch on the frogs.
I am reluctant to modify the switches to make them slightly wider. Is it possible to grind the wheels slightly on the locos to make them slightly narrower I wonder, or should I park the old stuff on some little used siding????