selectorIt has been a while, and I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. I think...I seem to recall...removing the layered weights and lighting kit in mine, including the contacts above the bolsters. The weights because I had steep grades and they're heavy enough to track well without them, and those screw-like contacts because they caused the trucks to bind when they swiveled in my 24-28" curves two layouts ago.
I found that it's not so much the screw-like contacts per se as it is the slight burr that can be found often at the top of the screw where the Phillips head is cut into the top of the screw. The burrs cause the truck to catch on the contact, rather than allowing it to swivel easily. A few swipes with the right file and things run much better.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks Dave. Usually I do not have problems, but from time to time I simply cannot create clickable link although I do as I always do.
Hrvoje
Hi Hrvoje,
Maybe this will work:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/125277.aspx
Dave
P.S.
If you are interested, this how I make the link work in my own posts:
Once you submit the post and it shows your link in plain black print, hit the 'Edit' option. Then go to beginning of the link and type '[' followed by 'url' followed by ']'. No spaces and no quotation marks. Then go to the end of the link and type '[/' followed by 'url' and then ']', again no spaces or quotation marks. Then update your post and the link should work.
The reason for the drawn out typing instructions is that the '[url...' is actually a command that the system responds to. If I type it out directly it will try to execute the command and that will mess up the message.
Obviously this is far more complicated than need be. Others may have a quicker solution.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
It's an investigative process. Gotta find the problems and fix them. No big deal. The Walthers 85' passenger cars are not unfixable. Blame Walthers, though, for not taking better care to do a little QC before shipping out those cars. If Walthers has the roadnames that you are looking for, by all means buy them.
Rich
Alton Junction
It has been a while, and I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. I think...I seem to recall...removing the layered weights and lighting kit in mine, including the contacts above the bolsters. The weights because I had steep grades and they're heavy enough to track well without them, and those screw-like contacts because they caused the trucks to bind when they swiveled in my 24-28" curves two layouts ago.
Lubing, yes, definitely, and I reamed several of my bearing cups, but I didn't think it was doing a lot of good.
Oh, and forget backing them on those 24" curves if they are coupled. Maybe you'll get lucky, I didn't, and that backing in the one place was also up an approximately 1% grade didn't help. It's the diaphragms.
hon30critter In the other thread, a couple of people including Rich recommended using long shank couplers (Kadee's #146 for example). Rich also suggested reaming the truck axle holes, and maybe using a bit of lubrication.
In the other thread, a couple of people including Rich recommended using long shank couplers (Kadee's #146 for example). Rich also suggested reaming the truck axle holes, and maybe using a bit of lubrication.
There is an unfortunate perception out there that the Walthers cars are irrevocably flawed. They are not. They merely need some tweaking to perform flawlessly.
Hi Gang!!
This is related to a thread on the 'Layouts and layout building' forum which discusses using Walthers (or other makers') 85' passenger cars on a 4x8 layout.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/285265.aspx
I have the same question, but in this thread I would like to ask you specifically what modifications you have made to the Walthers cars to get them to run reliably on +- 24" radii.
What modifications have you tried and/or succeeded with?
Thanks,