Gg1 frame needs straightening

[philo426]

Is it a diecast or sheet metal frame?

[stuartmit]

I took a shot at flattening out the frame and can't tell if I improved it any. I did also try to closely study in what way the leading truck comes up off the rail. In some cases, I eliminated trouble by careful inspection of my track work, which I'll admit isn't the best.   I see that where I come out of Gargraves into O22 switches, the slight vertical misalignment isn't helpful. When the first powered truck goes up onto the lionel o22 from Gargraves, the leading truck lifts and especially on the curve branc, failure is almost certain. I would have expected that for a toy, it would have been more forgiving.

Still and all, the fact remains i Have the track I have, other locos to tolerate it and I hope I can get this GG1 To run. 

[Flintlock76]

If it's a sheet metal frame and it's bent it should be able to be bent back to where it should be.  I don't have one myself but if it was mine the first thing I'd try (if it seems possible) is put on a heavy set of work gloves and try to bend it back by hand.  Of course I can't see what you're working with so I'll admit my comment may be ridiculous.   

Of course, there's always the possibility of getting another frame from a parts dealer but you're right, transferring the guts would be a PITA.

[stuartmit]

I picked up a 2360 GG1 and I can see that the frame in someway has been deformed and has a belly so that perhaps as much as 3/32"of the side of the frame is visible below the body. The effect of this is that the driving trucks Are on the rail, but the lead and trailing trucks are slightly lifted above, and the locomotive does not stay on the track going around any curves. Is there a solution to straightening this frame short of buying a new one and then completely moving all the guts from the old deformed frame to a new one?  that sounds like a tremendous amount of work. I have the classic toy trains from July 2013 in which they spend a lot of time on maintaining this locomotive, but no, where do I see that they address the question of a deformed frame.