problem with rear Truck Success thanks

Partick,

   Replace the trucks and the Pin both, to restore proper running.

PCRR/Dave

When i move the truck back and fourth  the pin will bind intermitly in the slot on the frame of the engine. Thats where i can feel it slightly  grab. My concearn is the play where the red arrow is in the drawing and the reason for the pin not staying straight up and down.

Is it beacuse the metal around the slot in the frame has worn thinner ?

Or has the shaft got play between the gap that shouldn t be there? I can replace the truck but worry that even with new truck , the slot may be the colprit.

Hi Patrick, Happy New Year

This might sound odd but these trailing truck on most engines really don't ever ride correctly. Sometimes they barely touch the track. What I do is add very thin spacers where they are needed, you should put a thin spacer or washer in the area above the pin or even on both sides of the pin. I do this all the time and it works pretty good,just make sure you grease it up good and also make sure the washer isn't to big.

Thanks, Alex

Happy New Year to You to Alex,

(Some nice buildings you been workin on)

I ll give it a wing. I ll stop on my home today and pick up a bunch of gauged washers and try that . If not then i guess i ll drop the 50.00 on the truck, pin and ship  ..

Like i mentioned earlier there is a ton of hours on it,and has been unbeleivably reliable, after thinkin about longer  maybe even double what i originally was thinking.Even the crossheads are starting to look like toothpicks.LOL

Patrick,

Also just make sure no wires on the inside are getting caught on the pin. Here's two photo's of where I add spacers all the time. I do this a lot because I install the magnets and reed switches on these trailing trucks for the 4 chuffs per rev. Try not to stretch the spring to much. I hope this works out for you.

Thanks, Alex

You're welcome  Pin replacement would be optimal with OEM parts. It appears that lubricant has been used.  You may also have a problem with the slide slots wearing larger.  The spring indicates that weight distribution is effected by the trailing truck support. Removing the pin/spring assembly may change weight distribution on the drivers creating more problems.  Just some more thoughts from a foggy head.  

Mike 

Alex,

where you are pointing with the pencil is my problem area, Yes the slot is clear both sides. But i notice in your pic that the pressure from the pencil seems to be lifting up on that washer. On my pin in question their is no play . The pin has a solid hat on it and a c- clip around the pin   where you are pointing. Which gives it a perminate width for it to ride in the slot. I will try the shimming and see how that works out ,

Thanks!

Patrick,

The pencil is not lifting up the spring in the photo, it just looks like it is. The engine is leaning on it's side a little which is making the trailing truck also lean. I totally understand what you are talking about. What I would do then is cut the pin out and purchase a pin like the one in my photo and then add spacers as needed.

Thanks, Alex

Mike very well said

Alex

I can remove the 2 c clips and pin will fall out. But what is puzzling now is i see your pin is leaning also but still moves freely.So you have play enough to let pin lean left and right, yet still slide  freely in fram slot.  Oh well i have enough sugeestions for now to try tonight. I ll let ya know how it works out. If not then i ll start ordering parts .

Patrick, I'm very interested to see if it works out. Let us know

Alex

Patrick,

   You may very well need to add a flat washer as you do your replacements.

You must re-engineer to allow the proper placement of the trucks as they move down the tracks.  You might need a new or even different spring also.

PCRR/Dave

Well i stopped on my home today to get some washers to shim the truck pin. I dont know the reason why it worked but it did. After a few different arrangements of washers etc.. This is what i came up with and appearently  had nothing to do with the slot in the engine frame, but more the balance of where the drawbar pushes on the shaft from left to right.

Thanks for the suggestions

I ran the engine for an hour and all seems well and the truck and drawbar swings freely with no binding left to right.

 Great repair

Glad it worked out

Alex

What's great, is this forum. Its members helping members and I believe thats what's all about.

Yep Jim,what I like to see.

The pictures really made the communication better.

A real trip into the problem solving world the way it should be. 

(1.) Excellent information posted. 

(2.) Communication skill well above par, noted diagrams. 

(3.) Excellent responses. 

(4.) All done in a timely maner. 

(5.) And follow up after the repair. 

You really don't mind chiming in on a project like this.   

Well done,

Mike CT  

I just bought a Lionel Santa Fe 4-8-4 that has hardly been run. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when the trailing truck lifted the rear drivers off the track. It seems to be the same situation as in this thread.