Comments on: Front Wheels Jump Track

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 08:54:20 +0000

Hi guys ref the pony truck screw …. if you do have to loosen it (or if it keeps coming loose) add a tiny drop of ‘Locktite’ or other brand of thread glue. It can be pricey but it’s worth it. I’ve even used it on old Tri-ang running gear when the tiny screws holding it to the wheels came loose… never had the problem again.

Ian

By: Newman Atkinson

Newman Atkinson — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 03:31:01 +0000

Your trucks need enough play so the wheel sets can flex from front and rear of each truck and also from left and right. The gauge of the wheels can play the problem as several of you have said. Some cars don’t have a very good bolster that holds the car up enough to clear the underframe from the wheelsets or truck parts. I have found that on a few engines and several cars I have purchased used All fixable. Also watch for protruding parts of the truck as the truck turns make sure it clears everything. I have an engine doing that now and a little bobble in the track making the truck flex up and down from front to rear will cause the truck to catch and not return in its travel ( Maybe a bad casting of the frame catches as the wheel set flexes as said above. Yep Agree with what has been already stated. from Newman Atkinson

By: David R Liverett

David R Liverett — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 17:43:45 +0000

In reply to Larry Young. No problem bud!

By: Timothy

Timothy — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 11:50:01 +0000

Thanks guys I found something wrong with each engine 2 needed screw loosen one I add weight
the rest flanges were tight
Thanks again
Tim

By: Eddie Smith

Eddie Smith — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:17:07 +0000

As it is happening with several locomotives check the track, particularly where you have joins on set track and where you have bent flexitrack. Some locomotives will be more tolerant than others of track alignment and this may be dependent on the size and wheel configuration as well as the make.

Not so relevant here but connected I had a problem with an 0-6-0 tank locomotive that would derail then re-rail itself on an S-bend. It was happening in the middle of a piece of set-track and only that locomotIve was affected. I eventually worked out it was the passenger coach coupled to it that was pulling it off the track on the curve. The moral is don’t rule out an issue with something other than the locomotive, even if only one is affected.. . .

By: Murray Angus

Murray Angus — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 08:11:10 +0000

I think you should also check to ensure the back-to-back gauge of the wheels are correct. That can also be a reason why wheels jump the track.

By: Larry Young

Larry Young — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 03:43:42 +0000

In reply to David Liverett. Dave I have an "O" gauge Bachmann engine that jumps the track when I use a switch. I tried your suggestion and backed the screw off the front truck thanks for the tip.

By: James Ruef

James Ruef — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 02:16:42 +0000

First thing to check is the gauge of the track. I will bet you will find that in the areas where the pilot truck jumps the track gauge is too narrow. this is often caused by the track nails holding the track in place have been driven in too far. This will cause the ties to bow and slightly pull the rails closer together. This is not an uncommon problem with both experienced and novice model railroaders. I hope this helps.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 01:21:47 +0000

I had a 4 6 0 HO steam loco that had problems with the front truck I put a small amount of extra weight on the truck frame and this fixed the problem. I had loosened the screw holding the truck in place as well. I hope this helps.

By: Norman Chipps

Norman Chipps — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:33:52 +0000

I had a problem with a Spectrum N scale recently on a 2-6-6-2 and had to make new wheels as the flanges were too small in diameter. The same happened to me earlier on a Rivarossi N scale 4-6-6-4 and it was the spring was captured in between the frame and the front truck and as soon as I loosened the truck mounting screw it popped out. After that it ran fine. A lot of manufacturers only run their products on a straight section of track and things like this get missed. Good luck and happy HO ing.

By: Neil Hunter

Neil Hunter — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:27:49 +0000

Have you checked that the wheelsets are in gauge? If you can, also remove the wheelset and check that the wheels are actually perpendicular to the axle. Misalignment can result in the pilot wheels running crooked and being prone to derailing. There is not a lot of load on the pilot wheels, so they might be very sensitive to any alignment defect. If they are crooked, careful bending may take care of the problem.

By: james penglase

james penglase — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:27:43 +0000

I had that problem with an MTH steam loco. The wheels on the front truck were out of gauge. The NMRA has a standards gauge which allows you to check wheels, track and couplers for correct distance, width, height. If you don’t have the gauge, put your loco on the tracks, run it at slow speed and look at the front truck. Make sure the flanges of the wheels are on the inside of the track. If it is occurring on a specific section of track or on a switch check the track for looseness or possibly a bend in the track. If it occurs on a switch, check the frog height and guard rail. Improper height will cause a derailment.