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it's another..Got some cars I ordered today in the mail. They are second or third hand cars anyways as Im setting them on the tracks I noticed a couple cars have some wheel issues. Three out of the Four wheels on one truck touch the rails. Is this a truck warped or maybe something with my track? Any ideas?
They are LBF cars and Ive never had this problem before.
Did you check the tension on the screws that attach your problem trucks to the frames? If they're too tight, the trucks can't change their angle to conform to slight variations in the track surface. Try loosening them a teensy bit and see if that helps...
Plastic trucks? My guess is that they are indeed warped. Running into the same problem myself with some cars found in the house purchased by a buddy that he gave me.
I've been experimenting with placing the warped trucks in hot tap water to "loosen" them up. I then put then back on the track, hoping that they will "flatten" out. If they don't, back in the hot water they go. So far about a 75% success rate. I may try heating the water to see if that helps the more stubborn ones.
The cars were found in the attics of the garage and the house.....(8)boxes of them. Many were just missing wheelsets, some missing trucks. Eventually I will be converting to insulated metal wheels. But, right now, the project would create a HUGE deficit in the bank account and I'd have to apply for a bail out.
I have but one word: Kadee. I replaced my plastic trucks with kadees and was totally blown away, smooth running, no derailments even at high speed through small radius turnouts. Plus I like the added weight at the bottom of the car. Granted they are pricey but worth every cent in my humble opinion.
it's another..Got some cars I ordered today in the mail. They are second or third hand cars anyways as Im setting them on the tracks I noticed a couple cars have some wheel issues. Three out of the Four wheels on one truck touch the rails. Is this a truck warped or maybe something with my track? Any ideas?
They are LBF cars and Ive never had this problem before.
I have but one word: Kadee. I replaced my plastic trucks with kadees and was totally blown away, smooth running, no derailments even at high speed through small radius turnouts. Plus I like the added weight at the bottom of the car. Granted they are pricey but worth every cent in my humble opinion.
Rather than replace the trucks on rolling stock that's going to be sitting in the background, take some cars you really like and upgrade the trucks on those. When you are done with that, take the trucks you removed from the "favorite" cars, and put them under the cars you just got.
You might try taking out each wheel set and putting it on a mirror. Role the wheelset across the mirror and you should be able to easily see if there's a warped axle that's causing the problem. If all the wheel sets roll true, it has to be the trucks. The truck bolster screws should be really loose, enough that you can move the truck from side to sie with your hand. If you've already done that with no improvement, swap out the the trucks with a known good pair and see if the car now tracks OK. If so, you need to replace the trucks. As Terry said, if you've got some cars that are just yard queens, use the trucks from those and put the other trucks on the static display cars.
I don't like "yard queens". My cars are purchased to be ran on the rails. No room for the "queens". If they are a problem, to the "kit-bash" box they go. I WILL find a use for them, like the caboose that is now an office for my gravel company. Or the dining car shell that is now a restaurant. The "ratty" Spectrum SD9 that looks like a turd? It's the switcher for the coal mine. But, a "Yard Queen"? Never.
If it comes to the point where you give up, send them my way, I'll MAKE 'em work, somewhere, somehow.
Any ideas? 
