I should have changed the Subject in my response to the Branchline kit email
from Scott Myers. My problems are with NKP kits. I thank Ray Bedard for
his checklist. Very good. I have checked most of the items on that list,
except weighing the cars, and letting them roll downhill. I'll do that.
I would appreciate any comments or discussion concerning anyone's
experieinces with NKP passenger cars. They were tough builds for me, and I
continue to have various frustrations.
Dale Reeves
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Bedard" <tczephyr@hotmail.com>
To: <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 9:10 PM
Subject: [CBQ] Branchline Passenger Cars Fixes
>I have not built a lot of Branchline cars, only 2. I have 26 inch curves
>and
> I found that the biggest problem was that the wheels would hit the center
> sill and so I trimmed part of it off so that the trucks can swing without
> hitting the sill or any other parts on the underside. As for the vertical
> movement, I too noticed that this appeared to cause a problem. So on one
> wheel set, I have the screw somewhat loose. The other truck is snug, this
> way I don't have a "rocking" car. With these changes, I have very little
> derailments when ever I do run the cars.
>
> I am a firm believer that there are several things one MUST do to insure
> smooth operation of your equipment:
>
> 1: All equipment MUST meet the NMRA weight standard, anything less will
> cause problems.
> 2: Coupler height and clearances must meet Kadee standards - if using
> Kadee
> couplers.
> 3: ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS use your NMRA guage to check the wheel specs.
> I
> have found wheel sets that were both under and over spaced, which will
> cause
> nothing but derailments! This includes top mfgr's so don't ASSUME just
> because you spent $1400 for a brass 4-6-4 or a $60 on a Branchline car,
> that
> the wheels are within spec.
> 4:Wheel sets must roll FREELY, anything else will cause a drag (making
> your
> engine work harder) and on a long train WILL CAUSE derailments on curves
> and
> switches.
>
> I always test my completed car by letting it roll down my 3% grade. It
> must
> roll freely and move into my curve without hesitation. That is how I was
> able to find the problem with my Branchline passenger cars. Infact, one of
> my new BWL CZ cars stopped half way down. On checking the wheel alignment,
> I
> found that one of the wheel sets was either too wide or too narrow - don't
> remember which way. After correcting this, it rolled as smooth as a baby's
> butt.
>
> I am sure that there are other things that one should do to insure a
> smooth
> opertion of one's equipment - this is just my imput.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Ray Bedard
> San Jose CA
>
>
>
>>From: "Dale Reeves" <drale99@verizon.net>
>>Reply-To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
>>To: <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
>>Subject: Re: [CBQ] Branchline Passenger Cars
>>Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:43:21 -0400
>>
>>I read Scott Myers' remarks about his experience with Branchline passenger
>>care kits. I have built five NKP passenger car kits and have had some of
>>the same problems Scott mentions, such as keeping cars on the track, etc.
>>I
>>have been struggling with my cars for months, unable to keep them on the
>>track, and having various difficulties with the trucks.
>>My kit building has been sloppy, which has added to my problems. I've had
>>to upgrade some of my work, which has helped. I find that absolute
>>ballance
>>seems to be essentail, and I have had to play around with weights to get
>>lateral balance, which helps. I have also added weights to the trucks,
>>with
>>some improvement. I, like Scott, would like suggestions as to what trucks
>>to substitute for the kit-furnished trucks. Dale Reeves
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Myers, Scott V." <svmyers@southernco.com>
>>To: <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
>>Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 8:23 AM
>>Subject: [CBQ] Branchline Passenger Cars
>>
>>
>> >I recently completed a second Branchline passenger car kit. This one
>> > was the 14 section Pullman car. The trucks are giving me fits, as it
>> > constantly derails, even on my 36" radius curves. The problem seems to
>> > occur on curves on a grade, as opposed to level curves. Have others
>> > had
>> > these problems with these cars? I ran it with Walthers cars, and they
>> > have no problems with the same spots where the Branchline car derails.
>> > It appears to me that the large flat surface on the car underbody to
>> > which the trucks attach may not allow the trucks to move vertically,
>> > unlike the raised circular screw insert used for mounting most trucks.
>> > I loosened the screw considerably so that there was a lot of play
>> > available between the trucks and the underbody, but this did not fix
>> > the
>> > problem either. I am wondering if the answer may be to replace the
>> > trucks, and if so, with what? Anyone have any suggestions as to how to
>> > remedy this problem?
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Scott Myers
>> >
>> > .
>> >
>> > <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714&grpId=17127&grpspId=1601043004&msg
>> > Id=25018&stime=1152465182>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
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