Wheels that Wobble

[Anonymous]

Greetings everyone:

This is my first post, and I thought I'd jump in here to look for a little guidance. Since November of last year, I've been aggressively collecting locomotives and rolling stock. It's been great fun, and I've very quickly learned my likes, and dislikes. My #1 pet peeve is locos that waddle down the track. There is something about a train that wobbles that gives the impression of poor craftsmanship, and a toy-like appearance.

I've weeded out the majority of locomotives that were most offensive, but have hung on to two because I'm so fond of them. What is interesting is that the two I still have are made in China by Atlas. I'm not certain what I should expect from these units. I have other locomotives built for Atlas by Kato, and they are a dream to watch glide down the track.

Now my questions:

1) Is it too much for me to expect that the Chinese units run as smoothly as the Kato units?

2) Is there any techniques for truing wheels?

Thanks in advance for for any advice I may receive!

Best regards,
Roberto

UP
Milwaukee Road
Amtrak

[Anonymous]

WELCOME ABOARD!

The answers are coming down the track as we speak.

[Don Gibson]

1. No
2. Yes.

Most of the problem comes from wheels on rolling stock with slightly off center axles. Some brands are more suseptible than others.

ENGINES are not easily corrected. The Athearn design is suseptible to 'Wobble' because the chassis rests on a piece of 90 degree hopefully bent metal.

Life Like, since they are copying this design, have the same problem. Only solution with these is: You'll have to 'audition' your engines before buying.

REAL engines going down the track sway.- which is a slow motion 'wobble'.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the reply Don:

Best regards

[Anonymous]

One possibility - based on my experiences with an Athearn DD40 - is that the metal tab that the chassis bears on is not bent to the correct angle. When I first recieved my DD40 it wobbled badly and had pickup problems - motor would "jerk" at a steady power setting. I discovered that the metal tabs that form the truck pivots were bent - the loco also leant to one side when stood on level track. My solution was to gently bend them back to the correct angle and reassemble the loco - the problem hasn't resurfaced since. Not sure how useful this is, but I hope it helps!

[fec153]

Steamers will from rod action. Unusual for diesels.

[Anonymous]

Waddling steamers usually have problems with the wheel quartering - on steam locos the crank on the right hand wheel should be set 90degrees (a quarter-turn) ahead of the left. If one or more wheelsets are set slightly differently to the others the loco will run jerkily and may damage the valve gear. Best bet in this case would be to either take the loco to your LHS and ask if they can help, or to buy a quartering jig (a metal tool that helps with setting this accurately) and fixing the loco yourself. Bear in mind that the jigs are often quite expensive - you may decide that you would feel happier asking in your LHS if they can fix it, or if they know someone who can.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with calling the manufacturer. I've called Athearn, NWSL, Proto and Bowser. Athearn sent the right parts, as did NWSL. Proto wanted the loco back (2-8-8-2), and Bowser told me how to fix it. I've found out through 50 years it the hobby that the factory is the best place to go for help.

I've corrected wheel wobble on cars by replacing the axels with either Proto, Kadee, or Bee-Jay. When you put new axels in they also roll better. I have a grade on my layout with two milepost and a new car is placed at the one on the grade and if it doesn't roll to the one on the flat then I work on the trucks.

Have a good day
Bob Stephens

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the input, I greatly appreciate it. I think what I will do is try to contact Atlas, and see if they wouldn't mind working out the problem. Unfortunately, much of my stuff has been purchased through E-bay so that may be a bit of a sticky wicket . I'd love to make local purchases to inspect product before I buy, but the only hobby shop in my town that stocked trains went out of business, and the others have little to no expertise, or interest in getting answers to my questions. Out of the three remaining hobby shops, all of them specialize heavily on R/C equipment. I'm not complaining. It's a free country. They are obviously entitled to seek business where they want, but I spend my money where I get the most mileage, and so far the local hobby shops have not earned it.

Having said all of that, If anyone else stumbles across this thread and has more to add, I'm all ears (or eyes as the case may be).

Thanks again everyone.

Best regards,
Roberto

[Anonymous]

I've noticed the "wobble" on my old Athearns - will be replaced or converted to 'dummy' units

The only Chinese I've observed up close was an NYS&W loco - made in Peking-- 1985? 12" :1ft scale. Rode well pullin the coaches!