Straightening a 700E , 763 E and OO Hudson Frame

No clue, I made up my own jig out of a plank of wood and a couple metal spaces to straighten my OO Hudson frames.  Once stripped of everything but the drive wheels, I clamp them up and using a small hobby/wood clamp, apply downward pressure while lightly heating the frame with my micro butane gas torch.  Its like welding, I can describe how I do it, but its not an exact science.  I can say, knock on wood, that I have never had a OO frame crack or break.  But the clamps are light duty and the heat allows the frame to relax a bit then reset once it cools.  I have straightened 4 or 5 Hudsons this way thru the years.   The Gentleman in AZ only did the work thru the "winter" months as it got to hot for him in his garage shop during the summer months there.  As to the O scale Hudsons, never messed with prewar ones as they are way out of my price range.  I have only owned a 785 and a 1-700e from the more modern era.    AD

Thanks for the reply, sure would more details on the clamping…

Regards

joe

Here is my 1938 001 that I just straightened today.  I bought it knowing it needed to be done, you could see the cylinders tipped forward in the auction pics.  But it was the first year version and that is what I wanted.  I take the engine and strip it down till all I have is a chassis with the drivers on it.  I prop the front pilot beam on a block, then put a spacer directly above the front drive axle.  I clamp her there with a squeeze style hobby clamp and put some pressure on the frame.  I do this on the edge of my bench.  Once clampped up(the clamp really is not strong enough to hurt the frame), I heat the frame with my micro butane gas torch to relax the metal and let the clamp do its work.  I let it fully cool before I unclamp it.  I then reinstall the cowcatcher/pilot and set it on the track to see the result.  I normally look for around a 1/16th of an inch or there about between the bottom of the pilot and the 3rd rail.  If all is well, I fully service the rest of the Hudson as I reassemble.  Never messed with the O gauge prewar ones, those are beyond my current budget, nor do I have room to run them.  OO fits my 4x7 layout perfectly, letting me enjoy prewar Lionel in a small space.   AD.

Here ya go, some video of the old girl polishing the rails.     AD