 Joined: 03/07/2008(UTC) Posts: 126
|
Recent experiences with the latest 18-323 have left me with disappointment, namely front wheels truck and under cab pony truck derailing on both C and K track.
Having inspected the front wheels truck bronze leaf spring - it looks almost impossible to adjust for additional downwards pressure. Any helpful advice would be welcome.
|
 1 user liked this useful post by Graham HO
|
|
|
|
 Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,565 Location: Paris, France
|
Hi Graham Based on quite a number of Märklin steam locos I have, I suggest you check (by decreasing order of probability): - the distance between the tender and the loco (must be in extended position for usual radii). Some locos may have a weak adjustable link (on my BR 06 002) so I had to add some temporary glue (Noch Hin und Weg Kleber) to prevent the link to snap to the closer position and prevent normal operation. - do not install some part from the super-detailing bag (e.g.: the protection tubes on piston cylinders) - the spring pushing the pony truk and the one pushing the front bogie. Sometimes, it may be a little weak, so you bend it SLIGHTLY using a pair a long-nose pliers. This is delicate work and you don't want to ruin the spring. Sometimes, the re-assembly may be tricky (proper orientation as the front bogie is fitted with an elongation mechanism. - on a recent Märklin BR 18.5 I have, they have extended the floor in the cabin or in the tender and when installing on the rails; there is a possibility to install the extension over / under so one of the loco or tender is supported by the other and its clearly not working fine. - the inner distance between flanges of wheels. It must be 14.1 to 14.2 mm When in doubt, check an enlarged picture of the explosion diagram about the orrect position of parts  BTW: NEVER EVER use normal smoke liquid (Märklin or others) with dynamic smoke locos like this one as it will ruin the smoke unit, use ONLY the LIGHT version 02421. I learned it the hard way with a trip to Göppingen. Sorry for all these things you know already Cheers Jean |
|
1 user liked this useful post by JohnjeanB
|
|
|
|
 Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC) Posts: 679 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
|
One of my favorite locos, 39241, suddenly started derailing at one switch which had been replaced on our club layout. I noticed that the front bogie was bouncing off the track at that switch. After doing some research I read that the slightly curved spring shown in the picture JohnJeanB provided above could be bent slightly to increase the pressure which would help keep it from lifting at switches and shorting. I took the front bogie apart and with my fingers bent the curved spring a bit more but then it had problems as I had not reinstalled the spring correctly. A second effort solved that and now it has no problems on the club layout. Note it ran properly over all the switches my layout and all the other switches on the club layout. It was just that one switch that it had problems with but it was easier to change my loco than change the switch. No other loco had problems with that switch. But most other locos running on the club layout are newer era diesels and electrics which do not have the front bogie.
|
2 users liked this useful post by rhfil
|
|
|
|
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,913 Location: Michigan, Troy
|
Yes, my newer br 38 also.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,278
|
Originally Posted by: Graham HO  Recent experiences with the latest 18-323 have left me with disappointment, namely front wheels truck and under cab pony truck derailing on both C and K track.
Having inspected the front wheels truck bronze leaf spring - it looks almost impossible to adjust for additional downwards pressure. Any helpful advice would be welcome. Have you tried with thin small lead weight to add on the front wheels truck? |
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,278
|
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB
BTW: NEVER EVER use normal smoke liquid (Märklin or others) with dynamic smoke locos like this one as it will ruin the smoke unit, use ONLY the LIGHT version 02421.
I learned it the hard way with a trip to Göppingen.
Jean
It will be fine by use ESU smoke fluid too. Both ESU and Märklins smoke unit are same process so to use light version. |
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
|
2 users liked this useful post by Goofy
|
|
|
|
 Joined: 10/07/2002(UTC) Posts: 3,298 Location: Patagonia
|
Agreed, i had been using ESU fluid for a while now, with no problems in dynamic smoke Generators from Roco, ESU and Märklin
Regards |
 German trains era I-II and selected III, era depends on the mood, mostly Maerklin but i can be heretic if needed XD, heresy is no longer an issue.. LOL |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC) Posts: 679 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
|
"Have you tried with thin small lead weight to add on the front wheels truck?" I thought about that but there really wasn't any place to add weight and then there might be the issue of the weight causing even more problems. Increasing the pressure of the spring solved the problem beautifully.
|
1 user liked this useful post by rhfil
|
|
|
|
Joined: 05/12/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,802 Location: Crozet, Virginia
|
Adding weight is just a bandage for not having the loco set up properly.
Adding weight may work, but it is better to carefully tune the bogie springs and make the loco naturally want to run right.
Just be careful with the springs, which I understand from working on mechanical clockworks. The devil is in the details.
Pay attention to the small details and you can make almost any Marklin loco run like a dream. |
Regards,
Jim
I have almost all Märklin and mostly HO, although I do have a small number of Z gauge trains!
So many trains and so little time. |
|
|
|
|
|
 Joined: 13/02/2017(UTC) Posts: 160 Location: Ottawa, ON
|
Originally Posted by: rhfil ... I noticed that the front bogie was bouncing off the track at that switch. .... Note it ran properly over all the switches my layout and all the other switches on the club layout. It was just that one switch that it had problems... No other loco had problems with that switch. Hello All, This is a problem that I also had with an s3/6 (BR18). One switch was causing this problem. Fixed it with a bit of tweeking -- slightly bending the metal spring on the front bogie. I also added some weight in the front of the loco, which did help with the balance. Just my $0.02. Andry |
Andry
// Marklin HO K track; ECoS; TrainController Gold; Marklin & ESU decoders; Arduino controlled Switches, Semaphores & Accessories (DCC); Win 11 //
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,278
|
Märklin news steam locomotives some of them do have problems by pass over turnouts.
I believe it´s turnouts are oversized and wheel flanges smaller than the old steam locomotives model.
I have BR78 and the wheels truck front and back are sensible and not recommended by use high speed through the turnouts! |
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 15/04/2020(UTC) Posts: 2 Location: Christchurch
|
Originally Posted by: Graham HO Recent experiences with the latest 18-323 have left me with disappointment, namely front wheels truck and under cab pony truck derailing on both C and K track.
Having inspected the front wheels truck bronze leaf spring - it looks almost impossible to adjust for additional downwards pressure. Any helpful advice would be welcome. Yes I am having problem with my new Class 18 323 on C track. My other 7 locos run fine forward and reverse on my layout. I have dissembled the front bogey of the 18 323 and nervous to try and alter the spring (bronze?) - Its quite stiff and concerned I might snap it. I would expect anyone with this new loco would see the same problem.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC) Posts: 679 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
|
The spring has four prongs. Just bend those equally very little. It was not difficult nor complicated. The hardest part was putting it back together correctly. One of the prongs ended up under the bogie because the spring had not been centered properly.
|
1 user liked this useful post by rhfil
|
|
|
|
Joined: 15/04/2020(UTC) Posts: 2 Location: Christchurch
|
Originally Posted by: rhfil The spring has four prongs. Just bend those equally very little. It was not difficult nor complicated. The hardest part was putting it back together correctly. One of the prongs ended up under the bogie because the spring had not been centered properly. Thank-you. I understand your posting and tried this - about 3 times (a little bit more each time). I'm still getting problems with this loco whereas my other 7 locos run well on my layout. I will talk to the NZ dealer this week and ask him what next. I'll send him some videos showing the problem - I reckon there is a minor design issue with this model
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
