Split axle boxes

Bob, my loco chassis is a 2-10 and I worried about the axle side movement for curves but then another problem came up when assembled as the linkages had very little clearance to allow any movement of the wheels and axles sideways. You might need a bit more curve in slot of the axle boxes to allow for the axles to shift up and down but bear in mind the linkages limit this movement anyway. I found out that full size locos have a very large clearance on the links and this is what makes the clanking noise when coasting. Give everything as much clearance as you can and the curve radius is about 16 feet i believe. Do the middle drivers have flanges? on the 2-10 the middle wheel has no flange. I also drilled 1/16" holes for oiling through the axle blocks with a c/sink at the top to allow filling with oil.

Clive, ps. look in my album to see  the loco.

Edited By Clive Hartland on 21/03/2015 10:14:24

Clive,

The front and rear axle boxes have a larger side clearance, the groove width on the middle pair has a small clearance but curved top and bottom, the lead and trailing grooves are 1/16" wider which should allow the lead and trailing wheels to move across slightly when the loco is on a curve. All the driving wheels have flanges and the distance from leading axle to trailing axle is 19.25" . Oiling is taken care of with holes in the axle box drilling those is not something I am looking forward to as they are tiny number 64 drill for feed to axle box/horns and a little bigger for axle journals fed via a 1/8" pipe.

Bob

I also drilled through the end of the axles on the outside to match with an oil groove on the axle to match up,with the axle box. It was recommended that a thick oil be used for lube?

Clive

Had a chat with some club members today and it seems that it all needs to be a loose fit with enough movement to allow the axles to pivot such that when the wheels on opposite sides are at their maximum travel but in opposite directions e.g. one fully up and the other fully down which I am close to. It also came to light that the club track will not accommodated all locomotives as one curve is tighter than the others or at least longer loco's. I will take the chassis over once complete and try it on the track as I do not want a completed loco that will not run on the club track. That said the club's black 5 runs round without any problems.

Bob