wobbly wheels on lionel locomotive

Since you are new, you might want to provide more information as to just exactly what model you are referring to, and what & where you are experiencing problems.

Keith-

 

Basically there are two common types of wobble. One is where the truck hunts from side to side, and the other is where the engine appears to ride up and down as the engine rolls along the track. Usually the traction tires are to blame - either one or more are missing, riding out of the grooved wheel, or the wrong size/thickness. In rarer cases you could have a bent axle or improperly gauged wheels, but other evidence of that would be seen in damage to the gears and/or axle bushings.

 

-John

AcelaNYP more than likely answered your issue

But get used to quips, long threads, "general" info, and waiting for answers without specifics.

Learn your engine numbers, and toss them around like the badges of honor they are!

Slight confession. My new CSX Chessie AC6000 does have a slight wobble, but it is so slight that I hardly notice it. The locomotive is so beautiful to look at, I could care less about a minor wobble. That being said, I believe QC is sometimes lacking over in China and owing to the fact that these rather expensive items must make a arduous and long journey from China, anything can happen.

 

Wobbly wheels are easily taken cared of if you have a warranty, then Lionel will honor it by repairing the locomotives wobble. If not, they must replace the locomotive period.

 

Now my train store lets me return things if there is a problem. While some problems are indeed minor, others are not. Personally, I detest electrical issues more than anything else.

 

So, yes, I have a locomotive that wobbles slightly and yes I examined her real close to include the traction tires and trucks. I cannot detect the actual cause and right now, I am okay with it. My $2000 dollar racing bicycle I found out the other day has a slight imperfection of the front carbon fiber fork. This means that the front wheel cannot center correctly. Which translates to who cares. I ride her anyway and she doesn't give me any problems. The point is: Buy things enough and eventually you will encounter imperfections. What you choose to do with them is entirely up to you.

 

Pete

A wobble problem often overlooked is a wheel(s) pressed off center onto the axle. You have to run it slow at eye level, then it's easy to see.

Yes, but rarely.  Every time I have had such problems, as said above, it is traction tires that are loose, swelled due to improper cleaners being used on them, etc. 

The original poster might be talking about an MPC engine. Many of them have wheels that are cast off center and they wobble like crazy.

Yes they do. I have replaced many of those wheels for friends.

I've had three but all on steam locos waddling like lame ducks all had to have replacement wheel sets.

James 

the locomotive wheel broke off now why iy did that???? I have no idea its
in the rwin cities bein fixed I called model scale supplies said they can
fix it and the truck assembly started to bounce on the track the hobby
dealer said it a bad gear

On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 at 9:14 PM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <
alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
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GOOD NEWS FOR U ALL LIONEL TRAIN FANS I JUST GOT MY ENGINE FIXED THEY HAD
TO REPLACE THE TRACTION TRIES AND PUT ON A NEW WHEEL

Glad everything worked out!

 

-John

yes it did it was a bent axel and the traction tires were shot and hub
broke how that happened I have no idea

On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 8:21 PM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <
alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>