Bouncing Lionel Challenger? SOLVED

Also to clarify, there are no bent axles or wheels, and the traction tires are all perfect. It seems to be in the suspension of the locomotive. Has anyone else encountered this or is this normal?

That's why they make a nice shelf queen

Hope you purchased that on a credit card less than 60 days ago.  Remedy for that is not your problem.  I would not spend one minute on a solution.  Return it.  If you charged it less than 60 days ago put a hold on the transaction with your card company while replacement is sought.

I have had problems not as wierd that were related to axel holes bored into the drive wheels of a die cast steamer which were a tad off center.  Also had one where the axel holes where not in alignment in the chassis frame. 

I have watched these bad pieces running at York on the manfucrtures demo table and no one even commented on it??????

Bad rides can show up in non suspended diecast loco chassis more readily than sprung brass chassis IME. 

If you are stuck with it send the video and an appeal to Lionel. (hope they do not think it to be "within accepted standards").

I've not had this engine but it looks like to me that all the weight is centered in the engine and there is a considerable amount of slop or movement in the front and rear trucks. If the front and rear could be shimmed at theyre pivet points to distribute the weight evenly that might be the fix you will need.

Thomas

My visionline challenger does not do that its smooth..

Thomas (nice name there!)  For clairification purposes only:  Each set of drivers is termed an "engine".  The trucks are at the front and rear of the engines, as in pilot truck and trailing truck.

Tom, Thanks for the clarification of terminology. I know what they are but I dont know who I'm talking to at times or if they're familiar with the correct terminology of engine parts so I just word my replies as simple as possible so most anyone can understand what I'm saying. But to reprhase my answer : The rear engine has to to high of a center of gravity at its mounted suspension point allowing there to be excessive vertical travel to take place at the suspension point of the front engine and the rear trailing truck thus causing unwanted vetical  movement to occur between said front engine and rear trailing truck and causing said engine to rock too and fro in a see saw motion. Technically that is phrased correct but it sounds like a load of useless crap. I still say that engine has slop in the front and back trucks and a few washers or a little adjustment would probably fix it.
Thomas

The only way to know if its the traction tires is to slow the loco to a crawl and observe the tires as they make contact with the rail during rotation.As the loco rolls observe the tire between the rail and the wheel to see if the wheel "rises and falls". Uneven tires are usually caused from the loco sitting in one spot for a long time,common in a brand new loco that sits in the box for a few months( between manufacturing, shipping and delivery) before it gets purchased.You say you put it "on the track for the first time" since when?was the loco sitting on the tires?Tires will smooth out after some operation, Ive had badly wobbling new diesels spend some time on a shelf on the flanges that returned to the layout smooth.

You could also simply take the traction tires off and run it.  That will tell you if it's the tires.

Thank you for the replies.

I do believe the solution lies within this center of gravity issue. If I place my finger on the front of the engine and push down lightly, the whole thing see-saws on the front wheels of the rear engine/drive wheels. Last night while troubleshooting I did add washers to the pin that hinges the front engine/drive wheels. This eliminated the wobble, but also caused a lot of jerking and screeching around corners. Will have to see if I can perfect it.

The pivoting you are describing....if that is the case, would seem to be a design problem, but there is at least one other owner of the same model who does not report that problem. 

Do you have available to you a blown up schematic of the washers/spacers called out for each position?

Maybe something extra or something missing at point of assembly??? 

Do you have another identical engine available to you where you can compare the chassis?

Today my uncle reminded me he owned the black version of this engine, and let me examine it. By comparison, the hinge pin on mine is much too long. There is also a spring in the front engine/drive wheels that I don't recall seeing on mine. This would explain the unsupported motion. I'm still visiting at his house, so will check up on mine again later.

In any case, this one must've slipped through Lionel QA. It was still factory sealed when I bought it from another forum member here.

BINGO.

As soon as I turned the loco over, I checked for that spring this time. It was stuck in a compressed position:



Don't know how I missed this before. Gave it a poke and it popped back into place:



There is still a slight bounce, but far less prevalent than it was. It's amazing how the entire performance of a $1000+ locomotive can be affected by one little spring.

Don't you just love that? Always a relief to get an "I'll just be darned!" moment.

Most model articulateds will "bounce" a bit at the front - the real ones did too (they

have a more complicated version of the front boiler/engine interface), but one didn't notice it because the movement was much slower than in the 1:48 version.

Running your loco at more realistic speeds will also make it move more, well,

realistically.

The RK-style "articulateds" don't bounce because they are not truly articulated, at least

not in the prototype-fashion. They are actually rigid-frame locos with two rotating

trucks, and have far more in common with your model RS-3 or F-7 than an true articu-

lated steamer.  

What does that spring do?

Does it transmit the weight of the boiler above to the truck?

Rod

We have that problem with the front engine of the MTH Challenger; bad spring.  It looses tension easily and derailments cause a short which heats it very quickly, making it "die".

There is one ROSS turnout on which it always derails, so we avoid running that way.

Tried various springs, MTH Service Station tech worked on it, but it's still bad.

First and last MTH steamer we purchased.

Every steam locomotive since then has been 3rd Rail ...