Polar Express lead truck problem anyone else have this problem?

Aw Come on Guys-----surely someone recalls this happening and knows the Magic Fix! 

I don’t have this engine however I’m sure the lead truck is a stamping. I’ve had stampings with rough edges that would bind and not allow the assembly to pivot properly. I filed the rough edges and it solved the problem. This happened on my big boy tender truck detailing on curves. If this is not the case perhaps a tougher spring would help with down pressure to the rails by the wheels. Good luck.

Rod, Thanks for the thought, but the lead truck is a casting. The pivot hole in somewhat bigger than the post that it fits on (.201 vs .205) . There does not seem to be any rough edges on the hole,but I wonder if enlarging the hole by say  .010 ( ten thousandths) would be beneficial or should the fit be tighter? It does seem that the binding occurs when the truck rocks to one side. 

Thanks for the reply VERY MUCH Appreciated!

Carl J Stevens 

Are both the plastic bearings snapped into the casting? Are the wheels too close together and in gauge? Is there a dab of grease on the top part of the stud that pivots in the cutout in the casting where the pin slides back and forth. I would not recommend enlarging the pivot hole on the truck casting.

Hi Chuck, Thanks for the reply. Yes the wheels are in gauge and there is grease where there should be grease. As you say, I am reluctant to enlarge the pivot hole since this would be a bit difficult to reverse( make a bushing to press in) . And both plastic bearings are snapped properly into the casting. Come to think of it this has been a problem since new that has slowly gotten worse-I assumed to begin with that it was track related but when I investigated further and removed the lead truck the engine now miraculously tracks perfectly! Hence the lead truck becomes the culprit. As I mentioned in my first post I thought someone made reference to a "fix" that Lionel had put forth. Of course this post that I "think" I saw was probably several years ago---I just do not have the time to spend on actual Model Railroading that I wish I had What with trying to finish the log 24x46 building that will house the future layout and then throw in the shop building for the 3' gauge Baldwin 0-6-0 that my wife and I acquired and all the other chores....

I VERY much appreciate the time you took to try to help,

Many Thanks, Carl

I have the same problem with my son’s LC polar express.  When you move the lead truck side to side by hand sometime it moves freely and sometimes it locks up hard.  It almost seems like it hangs up on a burr or something. Lube doesn’t make any difference.  If anyone out there has a fix for this please speak up.

Try the info in this :  https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/g...tions/messages/77193

Fix is spring related.

Mort

Hey Mort,

Thanks so much for trying to help with this irritating problem but, the info you directed us to is for a Trailing truck problem and we are dealing with a Lead truck. It was interesting to see and did lead to my checking the spring location on my lead truck ,just in case.

Thanks for the try - It is guys(and gals) like you who take the time to help that make this a Great Hobby!

Carl

@CJS posted:

I believe I have seen this discussed before and a "fix" offered , but apparently my search skills are nearly as defunct as my physical abilities have become with age so- here goes. My PE engine from set 6-31960 derails on the start of some curves and/or coming out of the curves. It is NOT the track as other engines have no problem AND when I remove the lead truck from the PE engine all is well! I thought at one time there was reference to a repair/fix that Lionel offered. The lead truck does seem to bind/stick in one position that causes the derailment. Lube makes no real difference.    Any help and or links/thoughts would be appreciated. I KNOW that the Forum/members have the wisdom that I lack!

CJS......" derails on the start of SOME curves. "  🤔

What kind of track and what kind of surface is the track on ?  ........... Even other engines not having the problem it could be that they have a better arraingment on the front pilot.   I had a slight dip in a straight Fastrack area just before the engine went into a right Fastrack 036 curve...... derailed everytime.   I was able to eliminate the dip and no problem.

Rod's suggestion on the stiffer spring has worked on other pilot wheel assembles on my regular layout for my articulated steamers.

Could you post a video of the engine derailing ...and....a video of the engine that doesn't have the issue. 🤔

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Could you post a video of the engine derailing ...and....a video of the engine that doesn't have the issue. 🤔

Uhh... did you take notice that the latest reply was two and a half years ago?

My problem was that I was using o 31 instead of o36 curves

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Uhh... did you take notice that the latest reply was two and a half years ago?

Sure did John.   I hope CJS is still above the dirt........jhz563 is well and solved his issue .

I pushed the PE engine into the curve from a straight section of track where the engine wanted to move to the outside of the curve  and found the pilot shifting back into the cylinder causing a loss of verticle travel of the pilot.

@jhz563 posted:

My problem was that I was using o 31 instead of o36 curves   

6 hours ago 🙂  .........gotta love the search engine to find info.