Postwar 200 Series Alco.....Question

On the later units, post 1962, traction tires may be the culprit. On magne-traction engines, not sure what that would be caused by.

Have you tried shimming the power truck?

Mitch 

How true are the wheel sets on your Alcos?

A lot of Lionel locomotives, both diesel and steam, have drive wheels with varying degrees of wobble.

Many and I mean many MPC diesels had the wheels pressed on off center. Run your engines real slow at eye level and see if that is the problem. I know yours is pre MPC but it could still be the problem.

Thank You Gents for all the replies.  A few observations and questions with pics.

I had used a Lionel traction tire to replace an old one on one of my Alcos.  It wobbled.  Lionel tires are much thicker than MTH tires.  So with Chuck's note, I decided to try an MTH traction tire which almost eliminated the wobble.

I'm not sure about or how to shim the power truck Mike.....but a question I have is.  How compressed should the springs be set to?  One of my Alcos has one spring and another has 2 springs.  Cost saving by Lionel I would think.  Pics attached.

I think as CW and Jim have mentioned....the gears on the worst offender appear to have too much play and I suspect now that one wheel on one axle is out of round.  Wheel not pressed on properly.

I'm not sure how to get the sideframes off.....must both rivets be taken out?

Thanks    Dave

What are you planning to do once you remove the side frames?
There is another thread going on servicing postwar Lionel sheet metal Alco/switcher motors.
 

To remove the side frame I grind off the crimp just enough to remove it. The casting is soft so to replace I drill a small starter hole and then use self tapping screws, it works for me.