SD70 wheel regauging

ddechamp71 Dec 1, 2006

  1. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Hi all, as I've just received my MTL turnouts, I've
    also noticed that my wonderful AZL SD70 have a trend
    to derail while proceeding accross frog and
    guardrails.

    As I've purchased a MTL track gauge I've noticed, like
    others before myself, that my SD70 wheel gauge is a
    little bit narrow and need to be widened.

    So I'm looking after the experience of those who have
    already done it.

    How did you proceed? Did you simply use a jewellery
    screwdriver? Isn't there a risk of bending or even
    worth, twisting the wheel and/or axle doing this? Or
    did you take these beauties appart in order to have a
    direct access to both the lower side and upper side of
    the trucks and wheelset? I'm not very enthusiastic
    about taking appart these jewels....

    BTW every input is welcome here!

    Dominique
     
  2. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I used 2 jewelers screwdrivers, one from each side and gently pried the wheels outwards from the axle.

    [​IMG]

    Some people like to take the trucks apart to do each axle and verify it is gauged all the way around, but I don't bother going to all that trouble.
     
  3. loco1999

    loco1999 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Robert,

    What's that MTL gauge?

    I did my SD70 without it and it
    took a while to get it right.

    I did use a small screwdriver.
     
  4. bambuko

    bambuko TrainBoard Member

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    elementary my dear Watson :shade:
    [​IMG]
    picture on the MTL web page shows N gauge version,
    for Z the part number is:
    [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] #988 00 032 Coupler Height Gauge (Old #920)
    you can get it from my favorite shop:
    http://www.zscalemonster.com/mt/tool/tool.htm
    for $7.28

    Chris
    [/FONT][/FONT]
     
  5. loco1999

    loco1999 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I didn't know they made a Z version.

    Thank you! :)
     
  6. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I have used these for handlaying Z Gauged track and they work pretty good for code 55-60 rail.
     
  7. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Wish they would put the damn part numbers for things like this in the catalog and website, they might sell more ! I was going to get one and couldn't find the part number.
     
  8. loco1999

    loco1999 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I received the MTL gauge and it's a big help.

    I got some MTL flextrack and turnouts down
    for a small loop and it's pretty cool.
     
  9. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Keith, Wait till you get the BLMA fans, diesel detail set, and cut levers, then start detailing up a GP35... That's when you look at your work and start feeling real good about Z Scale! ;)
     
  10. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Hi all, it's done, I've just regauged my SD70s. Like some of the people here, I was encountering
    problems when operating my AZL SD70s on brand new MTL
    turnouts, and so on Wright samples.

    -So I first filed guardrails on my turnouts, it
    partially solvered the problem.

    Meanwhile my MTL GP35 were operating smoothly on my
    MTL turnouts, because both are from the same brand.

    Wondering how to solve the problem with my SD70s (and
    furthermore, with all my AZLs), some people on the Z scale Yahoo Groups forum gave
    me the advise to file my guardrails, and other people
    gave me the advise to regauge my locos with a MTL
    gauge.

    Fortunately a fair number of years ago I purchased a
    MTL gauge, which was still in its package until 2
    weeks ago.

    I opened that package when it appeared obvious I had
    to regauge my AZL SD70s.

    As these wonderful loco's packaging doesn't recommand
    any taking appart, I was reluctant to do anything on
    them.

    BTW I followed some of the forum's members'
    prescription, and I only took my MTL gauge and a
    jeweller's screwdriver. I only pushed one wheel
    outwards on each axle, in order to fit the MTL gauge.

    Two of my three locos were immediately available. The
    third unit was suffering of problems afterwards: its
    two trucks were twisted regarding each other: that
    meant when the loco was on its rails, the LH wheels on
    aft truck were slightly standing above the rail, maybe
    0.5 millimeter (sorry for you american fellows who are
    still working with inches, 1/4, 5/16, 9367/14806467
    inches <wink> - whichever the value, the problem
    remains the same).

    And then, two guys of the Yahoo Groups Z scale forum gave me the
    way to follow: first I had to take the loco appart:
    while holding the chassis from the fuel tank, slightly
    rock the shell back and forth holding it from the cab,
    until feeling it's free to be removed from the
    chassis.

    Once both are separated, take a jeweller's
    screwdriver, and only check the copper contact coming
    from the trucks: they have to touch copper contacts
    which are underneath the chassis on their LOWER SIDE
    (when I regauged my axles, on each truck one of the two
    contacts moved on the upper side of the chassis's
    lower copper contact - so I only took a jeweller's
    screwdriver to put them on their fair location).

    (If you have any doubts of how the things have to be on their normal
    status, remove the shell from the chassis PRIOR to doing anything
    regarding regauging, and look carefully how the different copper
    contacts are put together)

    And this done (all the process only took 3 minutes),
    only put the shell back on its location, and
    everything is done.

    Hope this helps,

    Dominique
     
  11. loco1999

    loco1999 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Robert,

    That sounds like fun, I am waiting on some CA.

    The 2x4 layout is "in the way" and may become a
    2x6 is over the desk to make better use of space.
     

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