Lionel 38029

Image? Flat track work or on an incline?

Flat gargraves track.

How nice and level is your flat track work?....Pat

Very flat. It’s seems to randomly touch. Not the same place each time. Sometimes straight, sometimes curves, etc. etc.

i don’t think the front truck has ever been removed, however, the scale front coupler is installed ????

Geojr posted:

Very flat. It’s seems to randomly touch. Not the same place each time. Sometimes straight, sometimes curves, etc. etc.

i don’t think the front truck has ever been removed, however, the scale front coupler is installed ????

That ain’t got a dog in this fight.....coupler ain’t gonna make the pilot scrub....probably best if you post up some pics if you can, especially pics of where it happens....might see a remedy by looking at what’s going on......Pat

Possibly a traction tire? You might post a picture of your locomotive on the track for our review. The reason I mentioned traction tire, if it’s missing it could cause imbalance. I’ve had this nice streamer and never had that issue, in fact, it’s sounds are incredible and it negotiates on curves really great, maybe the pilot is loose. Good luck in getting the engine to operate properly. 

It’s possible your front pilot is bent downward- maybe it got pushed back in the box somehow without you knowing it?  

On one of my engines that had a similar engine we took a piece of electrical tape and put it on the underside of the pilot. It’s was black so it blended in and stopped the metal on metal contact of the pilot touching the rail. 

Totally different loco and different era, but I had the same issue with a 1938 Lionel 001 Hudson.  The cause was a bent frame.  I had an expert repair the frame and the problem was solved.  

Usually, this is indeed as stated, the pilot has taken a shot and been bent downward.  It appears it's still available at Lionel Parts.

Any update?