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Out of gage wheels

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Gordon - 25 Sep 2006 04:15 GMT
I have an Atlas/Kato RS-3 that generally runs fine.  Today
durring open house it was derailing on turnouts.  One of the
trucks would try to take the diverging route.  While re-railing
the engine after one of it's jumps, I noticed that there seemed
to be a lot of play between the rails.  Checking with an NMRA
gage I find that the wheels are too close together.  

Before I do somthing silly and break somthing, can somone
tell me the best way to get these wheels back in gage?

Thanks.
Bob May - 26 Sep 2006 05:01 GMT
The best way is to pull the wheelset from the loco and find out where the
wheels slipped.  Odds are that some piece of plastic slipped against the
metal of the wheel.

--
Yeppie, Bush is such an idiot that He usually outwits
everybody else.  How dumb!
Gordon - 26 Sep 2006 05:21 GMT
You lost me..

> The best way is to pull the wheelset from the loco and find out where the
> wheels slipped.  Odds are that some piece of plastic slipped against the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Yeppie, Bush is such an idiot that He usually outwits
> everybody else.  How dumb!
Bob May - 26 Sep 2006 20:21 GMT
Where?

--
Yeppie, Bush is such an idiot that He usually outwits
everybody else.  How dumb!
Gordon - 27 Sep 2006 22:59 GMT
"Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com> wrote in news:xdGdnc-
5YLUh4ITYnZ2dnUVZ_tydnZ2d@nethere.com:

> Where?

I'm not sure how to go about this. I can't just snap
the wheels out of the trucks.  So do I have to
dissasembe the loco to release the trucks.  Or can
the trucks be opened up from the bottom without having
to tear into the loco.  I see no obvious way to do this.
Fred Ellis - 28 Sep 2006 03:06 GMT
> "Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com> wrote in news:xdGdnc-
> 5YLUh4ITYnZ2dnUVZ_tydnZ2d@nethere.com:
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> the trucks be opened up from the bottom without having
> to tear into the loco.  I see no obvious way to do this.

I have an Atlas RS-3.  You said in your OP that the trucks are too close
together.  After exaiming the trucks, I thought you might try to use a
flat bladed screwdrive to carefully wedge the wheels further apart.  I
don't know how much force you would need to move the wheels but I would
do it as gently as possible.

Sorry, but that is the best suggestion I can think of for now.

Fred Ellis
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Bob May - 28 Sep 2006 20:18 GMT
Yes, the loco must be partially disassembled to remove the truck from the
loco and then the truck must be disassembled in order to gain access to the
wheelset.  I figured that this would be obvious to the casual observer but I
guess that this is a wrong assumption in these days.
Must be too much enviromental and PC stuff being taught to the kids and not
enough real world stuff.

--
Yeppie, Bush is such an idiot that He usually outwits
everybody else.  How dumb!
Gordon - 29 Sep 2006 03:43 GMT
> Yes, the loco must be partially disassembled to remove the truck from
> the loco and then the truck must be disassembled in order to gain
> access to the wheelset.  I figured that this would be obvious to the
> casual observer but I guess that this is a wrong assumption in these
> days. Must be too much enviromental and PC stuff being taught to the
> kids and not enough real world stuff.

I'm not exactly a kid anymore. But I've never had the need to
tear a loco apart down to the trucks. They are so delicate you
know. And I am woried about causing unrepairable dammage. I wanted
to get advice and pointers from others who have gone before me.

To clearify: THe flange to flange didtance on any given axel is
to short.  THe wheels are too close together. I wandet to take
the wheelsets out f the trucks and try to twist the wheels a bit
to pull them further apart.  But if you look at the bottom of
the truck you can see that that is not such a simple opperation.
Frank A. Rosenbaum - 29 Sep 2006 03:55 GMT
>> Yes, the loco must be partially disassembled to remove the truck from
>> the loco and then the truck must be disassembled in order to gain
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> to pull them further apart.  But if you look at the bottom of
> the truck you can see that that is not such a simple opperation.

Gordon, I  don't recall the type of engine you have. If it is a diesel,
there might be a bottom clip cover on the bottom of the truck. If there is,
you can gently pry it with a small screwdriver from one end. Once one end is
clear, you can take the clip off and get to the wheels. They should just
slip out of the bearings.

If it is a steam engine, there should be screws on the bottom cover plate
that you can take out. Be very careful with steam engines since if you twist
the wheel to re gauge it, you will likely turn it out of quarter and it will
not run well, if at all.

If this doesn't help, let us know what type scale and gauge (it is suppose
to be). There might also be instructions on the manufacturers web site with
a isometric drawing of the loco.

Signature

Frank Rosenbaum
Please support the following train meets if you can
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Also check out the Westchester Model Railroad Club's train meet in Greenwich
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anwn@youknowwhatozemail.com.au - 30 Sep 2006 12:11 GMT
Hello

The loco is an  Atlas/Kato RS-3, (was in the opening). :)
There should be something on the manufactuers
website about what to do. I tried adjusting some
carriages wheels once and then couldn't get them
to stay in place. Carriage now has new wheelsets.

Hmm isnt Atlas seperate from  Kato ??

Atlas made in the US ??
Kato made in Japan ??

*snip*

>Gordon, I  don't recall the type of engine you have. If it is a diesel,
>there might be a bottom clip cover on the bottom of the truck. If there is,
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>to be). There might also be instructions on the manufacturers web site with
>a isometric drawing of the loco.

My Website:
http://gannetweb.awardspace.com
Delete the You Know What to email me!
Joe Ellis - 30 Sep 2006 12:50 GMT
> Hello
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Atlas made in the US ??
> Kato made in Japan ??

Yes... and no.

Before Kato made their own line of US prototype locomotives, they made
them for other manufacturers. Thus, "Atlas/Kato", sold by Atlas under
their brand, but manufactured by Kato under contract.

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by the example of Yugos.

fl@liner - 30 Sep 2006 14:30 GMT
>Hello
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
>*snip*

Kato is a Japanese company that builds locos for other mfgrs
as well as their own line.
Atlas is an American mfgr that has contracted with Kato
( and others ) to build locos.
Most (if not all) of Atlas' locos are now built in China.

I don't know if you are referring to HO or
N scale, but I have and N scale RS-3, built by Kato, but
Atllas branded that had issues with wheels.  I just bought a
set of NWSL wheels for it.  No more problems; better pickup
and smaller flanges.    I have another RS-3 that is Kato
branded ( a much newer engine ) that performs flawlessly
without having to monkey with it.

fl@liner
This tagline has been certified
to contain no political rants.
Whodunnit@earthlink.net> - 30 Sep 2006 17:02 GMT
>Kato is a Japanese company that builds locos for other mfgrs
>as well as their own line.
>Atlas is an American mfgr that has contracted with Kato
>( and others ) to build locos.
>Most (if not all) of Atlas' locos are now built in China.

Trivia info:

When stationed in Japan in the mid-60s, Kato/Seksui was the manufacturer of
N scale locos and cars which were then being imported under the Con-Cor
label.  I was getting N scale freight and passenger cars for 20 cents each.
fl@liner - 30 Sep 2006 19:23 GMT
>>Kato is a Japanese company that builds locos for other mfgrs
>>as well as their own line.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>N scale locos and cars which were then being imported under the Con-Cor
>label.  I was getting N scale freight and passenger cars for 20 cents each.

Had we known then...
Been leafing through the November MRR and noticed two brass
engines, an Overland Alco for >$900, and a 2-10-4 for
>$1800.  Koff, koff.

fl@liner
This tagline has been certified
to contain no political rants.
Whodunnit@earthlink.net> - 30 Sep 2006 20:47 GMT
>Had we known then...
>Been leafing through the November MRR and noticed two brass
>engines, an Overland Alco for >$900, and a 2-10-4 for
>>$1800.  Koff, koff.

I agree but then the brass imports of today are so far superior to those
made in Japan in the 60s and 70s.  Still have, in a closet, an unpainted,
test-run only,  Nickel Plate Models, D.M.& I.R. 2-10-4.

Ray Hobin
 NMRA Life # 17XX; TCA # HR-78-XXXXX; ARHS # 2XXX
 Durham, NC [Where tobacco was king; now The City of Medicine]
Alan Gilchrist - 30 Sep 2006 17:55 GMT
> The loco is an  Atlas/Kato RS-3, (was in the opening). :)
> There should be something on the manufactuers
> website about what to do. I tried adjusting some
> carriages wheels once and then couldn't get them
> to stay in place. Carriage now has new wheelsets.

 Atlas at one time or another had repair sheets available for their
locomotive products, but it's anyones guess if their still available or
not.

> Hmm isnt Atlas seperate from  Kato ??
>
> Atlas made in the US ??
> Kato made in Japan ??

 Actually made by Kato for Atlas, also Roco use to make products for
Atlas as well.

Alan
Alan Gilchrist - 27 Sep 2006 00:49 GMT
> I have an Atlas/Kato RS-3 that generally runs fine.  Today
> durring open house it was derailing on turnouts.  One of the
>
> Before I do somthing silly and break somthing, can somone
> tell me the best way to get these wheels back in gage?

 I don't know fer sure, but the wheelsets should be of the plastic
axle with pressed in wheels type, try disassembling the loco and the
truck to see if the wheels are loose, axle cracked, or just plain out
of adjustment, you can twist the wheelset to put it back in gauge if
you have too.

 I have one of these locos, but it's never been out of the box much so
I'm not sure how the engine is constructed.

Alan
 
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