Rivarossi Tender problems

[Anonymous]

HO Scale
Code 70 track shinohara
Cork roadbed
1/2 inch subroadbed


Does anyone else have issues with the front trucks on a Rivarossi tender?
Both of mine derail and usually in odd places you would think turnouts would be problems but they are not. I am thinking the spring that is used to provide tension is not working right and allows to much play. I am thinking of adding a small weight to the bolster to get the trucks to track better.

[cacole]

Are these derailments at track joints, by any chance? Rivarossi wheel flanges being too deep to run well on code 70 rail may be your problem, especially at rail joiners. If you have soldered the rail joints, you may be able to cut away the rail joiners with a Dremel on the inside of the rail. If it's a problem caused by wheel flanges, the only other cure would be to change the wheelsets if you can find suitable replacements. Most Rivarossi tenders pick up current, so you would have to use wheelsets that are insulated on only one side, and make sure you have the insulated wheel on the same side as the originals.

[Anonymous]

this is a new FEF-3 with the rp25 wheelsets
and no its not on a rail joint I think I will add some wieght but I will isolate the area and see why the track is different there.
I do not have any issues with my pilot trucks just the front trucks on the tender
no other wheels come off.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by unionpacific4018

this is a new FEF-3 with the rp25 wheelsets
and no its not on a rail joint I think I will add some wieght but I will isolate the area and see why the track is different there.
I do not have any issues with my pilot trucks just the front trucks on the tender
no other wheels come off.

Be sure your wheel sets are in gauge with the NMRA gauge. Model Railroader always checks the wheel sets and sometimes the report a set that is out of gauge. It can happen to any model. If you have checked the spring tension check both for wheel gauge and see if the truck is on the track level. The brass lead truck on the centipede tender allows one side of the truck to float up and down so the truck does not ride up and stays level. I am not sure if your tender truck has that feature, but the truck has to be level on the track also.

[Anonymous]

I will clarify.
The lead(pilot) truck of my Riv FEF-3 tender momentarily elevates(inside rail) going into one of my curves but no derail. My second FEF-3 tender does not.

[Virginian]

As already said, check the wheel gauge.
If it's on curves, are the engine and tender binding in any way? Wires catching?
Are the top of the truck and the bolster that rides on it both smooth?
Are the wheels turning freely in the truck?
Does the truck pivot freely?
Does the truck have the ability to move freely at least slightly in all three planes; camber, pitch, yaw?
I have swapped several Riv tenders onto other engines, and that's about all I have ever found. On old ones, you may need to poli***he axles and contact spring fingers to get good electrical contact, but that isn't your problem.