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Leaners Locos and rolling stock
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Frequent poster 964 posts Mustangok Frequent poster 964 posts
Mustangok

On my HO shelf layout I've noticed a couple of cars that lean ever so slightly out of true moving down the track or sitting on a siding.

I could keep sorting through bolster filing and other modifications, change fiber washers etc. until they ride square; but they're not too bad and they match what I've seen from time to time on the prototype, particularly local short lines so I'm using them as is for now.

I'm sure a variety of factors contribute, and the few prototype cars I see don't lean much but in a train they are evident due to the pattern break.

Anybody else run your leaners, or do you work on every car until it behaves?

Kent B
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Lee1234 Active Member 73 posts
Lee1234

Axles that are to short for

Axles that are to short for the truck frames will give you a leaner.  All the axles will shift to one side and the other side of the car will be lower as the truck frame is riding farther out on the axle taper.  
L
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ctxmf74 Super User 15,937 posts
ctxmf74

Anybody else run your leaners?

  In the past I've ran a few, fixed a few, and just put a few away for later. A slight lean doesn't bother me but if it's obviously excessive I'll try to fix it. I've had a few cars that just didn't want to sit up straight and took a lot of time to correct. I have enough cars now that I can delay fixing the ones that bug me and put them off till later( which might never come)  :> ) .....Dave

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eastwind Super User 3,589 posts
eastwind

It depends

If it leans to the right, I cancel it from the roster, box it up and never look at it again. If it leans to the left, I run it during prime-time.

You can call me EW. Here's my blog index
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2tracks Regular poster 320 posts
2tracks

Well,

I guess  I'm one  that doesn't  run leaners. Every car that is new to me, whether it's used or brand new, before it hits the rails, gets a going over, at the least, on couplers & trucks. It would be an upgrade towards Kadee's, Intermountain, or something similar.  I would want it to lean because of the track, more prototypical. But that's just what I like....Good question!

Jerry

"The Only Consistency Is The Inconsistency"
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