Mike,
I totally agree.
Ed
Interesting method, Ed. FWIW, I've never had a screw back out on me yet. Maybe it's because I don't tap my holes first and just allow the 2-56 screw to cut the thread inside the bolter as I'm screwing it in.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Interesting method, Ed. FWIW, I've never had a screw back out on me yet. Maybe it's because I don't tap my holes first and just allow the 2-56 screw to cut the thread inside the bolter as I'm screwing it in. Tom
Yeah, that's one method of gaining "tightness". Though a person could wonder how many times you can take the screw out until it's un-tight.
I developed my prejudice against just forcing a screw into making its own threads back in the day of cast metal cars. As I recall, trying that trick was a road to deep sadness. That's probably where I developed my love for using a tap. That, and working in a machine shop. My boss was Austrian. He was a VERY good and nice guy. But perfection was just barely good enough for him. And I didn't want the "look". Never mind the snicker.
Yea, if the bolster were metal, Ed, it would be an entirely different matter and I would definitely use a tap. The plastic they use for the injection-molded cars though cuts quite nicely when "tapped" with the supplied 2-56 screws. Since I have no intention of removing the screw again, it shouldn't pose an issue.
I worked in a R&D machine shop for a number of years and actually enjoy hand-tapping. That's the best way to get the "feel" for cutting threads. Worst sound in the world is that subtle snap of a tap breaking off in a metal "blind" hole - LOL.
tstageI only tighten my truck screws until the truck is snug and no longer rotates then back the screw off ~1/4 or so turn.
Tom,I just fired my proof reader..I meant to say 1-1 1/2 turns.
As far as truck screws falling out I found one of my Roundhouse cars had to make several dozen trips around the Bucyrus club layout before I picked the car up to pack it away and the truck remained on the rail..Imagine my shock. I have no idea why that car didn't derail since Roundhouse cars doesn't have a king pin on the frame.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
tstageI've never had a screw back out on me yet.
.
I have only one experience with a truck screw backing out on me, and it killed my Spectrum 2-8-0!
The truck screw caught on something and made the traind stop dead while in motion. Now my consolidation slips and clicks while moving forward.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
marksrailroad I tried metal wheels once upon a time and had a lot of trouble with them so I gave up and went back to plastic which solved the problem...
I tried metal wheels once upon a time and had a lot of trouble with them so I gave up and went back to plastic which solved the problem...
Wow. Thats a first. It's pretty universal that modelers in HO switch from plastic to metal and the benefits are well known. I'd guess your problems were not due to metal wheels or you got some bad ones like another person said.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
YoHo1975Well, my experience only dates back to the 80s, so I guess I don't have sufficient knowledge to turn a screw.
Just one of the problems generated when they stopped having shop classes in junior high.
Our local city college gives classes in that, so there's still hope.
7j43k YoHo1975 Well, my experience only dates back to the 80s, so I guess I don't have sufficient knowledge to turn a screw. Just one of the problems generated when they stopped having shop classes in junior high. Our local city college gives classes in that, so there's still hope. Ed
YoHo1975 Well, my experience only dates back to the 80s, so I guess I don't have sufficient knowledge to turn a screw.
Double saurcasm. Quite a crew here!
riogrande5761 7j43k YoHo1975 Well, my experience only dates back to the 80s, so I guess I don't have sufficient knowledge to turn a screw. Just one of the problems generated when they stopped having shop classes in junior high. Our local city college gives classes in that, so there's still hope. Ed Double saurcasm. Quite a crew here!
Being the promoter of sprung metal trucks with metal wheels, I knew from the thread title I should just stay away, but it has been an entertaining read......
Sheldon
My N scale layout "Teddie and Shelbieville Railroad" most of the metal wheels are from intermountain. When I install them I always place the solid wheels to the left side of the cars to prevent a staggered or crooked truck. Some axle lengths are different by .002 to .003 but I assume that the solid side is pressed on to a standard depth on the axle. The insulated side is set to the solid side leaving the extra axle length to the right so the wheels run true to the truck.
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