Bachman wobbly wheels, the Solution?

[Granitechops]

As I cant get to type a meaningful reply into this topic
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?high=&m=69895&mpage=1#69968

I will start another one here

Cause of bent axle

I discovered why some Bachman axles are wobbly, quite by accident.
I had run some axles on track & they ran true, I painted some, one started to roll off the shelf,
so as not to get paint all over myself, rather than try to catch it, I let it fall
result, bent axle, I think the weight of the wheels, & the thinness of the steel axle as it lands at an angle is the reason

 

[bobg]

It does sound from some of the previous comments that these axles may just be common mild steel, instead of stainless, which would perhaps account for your experience. Rolling the offending set on a flat surface should show up where the error is (next best thing to a lathe) and it may well be possible to correct it sufficiently.

 

[Granitechops]

Aha, Success

Cure
One axle at a time, to maintain back to back measurements
remove wheels & plastic centre axle spacers
place steel axle on smooth hard flat surface,
while rotating with a finger,
gently tap the axle with a small pin hammer
turn it around & do other half
untill axle runs true on surface,
reassemble & should be a great improvement if not perfect

worked for me on several axles

 

[bobg]

Exactly that to which I was alluring!!!

It might also be possible without removing the wheels, but much greater care would be required, and it could depend on just where the bend had occured.

 

[Granitechops]

In the other thread it was stated that some wheel centres did not look true, being off centre.
Could I suggest that someone with one of these try my method & see if it might just cure it?

please, if it does work, let us know for future reference

 

[Granitechops]

Exactly that to which I was alluring!!!

It might also be possible without removing the wheels, but much greater care would be required, and it could depend on just where the bend had occured.

Quite possible, but with the plastic axle sleeves in place it is very difficult to see where the steel it bent, I personally would not trust the plastic not to split when using the hammer,
& I suspect the plastic would also cushion the force from having the same impact on the steel

Having used lots of these wheel sets, they are quite ameanable to being dissasembled

 

[Westcott]

Don, nice one!
I'll give it a try as well.

Bob, I'll take your word for it that you are alluring.

 

[bobg]

Oooohhh!!! Mrs Spencer (Betty) thinks so!



[Sorry youngsters this is before your time.]

 

[coyote97]

...the best way to solve the problem:

change to AMS or bachmann spectrum.

Greetings

Frank