I have a recently purchased a used Lionel K-Line 3435. 4-6-2, locomotive made from Marx 333 molds. It has a DC can motor and a multi cable hook up for a caboose which I do not have. The rear truck of the locomotive would would derail which was a first for me as I usually have front loco trucks derail. I found its rear wheel gauge to be 1 -1/16 inch verse the front truck gauges of 1-18 inch.
The rear truck is cast in two parts are that are riveted together and the ends of the wheel axle ends are contained. The wheels were fixed on and were forced onto the axle. I could not figure out how to use a vise or other tool to spread the wheels apart another 1/16 inch. Usually re-gauging involves moving the wheels closer together.
Working with a two pairs of narrow regular pliers and a mid sized nut as a spacer I was able fit the pliers on the truck to spread the wheels to get to a 1-1/8 gauge. The two pair of pliers allowed me to get to both wheels and use the 5 times or so mechanical advantage of the pliers handles to force the wheel apart an additional 1/16 inch. I got lucky as the first hint of movement came out to be 1/16 inch. The rear truck does not derail anymore! I thought this little trick may be of use for others.
You can see the two pliers jaws are parallel by selecting the best thickness of nut and the nut is held in place by screw and nut end of the pliers
Charlie
