Help with Rapido passenger car

[mecgp7]

I just purchased 4 of Rapido's light weight coaches. They are really nice models. I have one problem and that is that they don't roll; none of the four. It's like taking them for a drag. The axle points a set correctly. I did a search and didn't come up with anything.
Thanks in advance,
Clint

[up1950s]

I have 5 that are 5 miles high as I type . Turn it over and check each axle for free spinability . Check for rubs at break shoes , flanges and all other spots . Check to make sure axles are in their proper holes/cones . Check for free rotation . Check that there is some ability to rock in all directions on at least one truck . Each axle can have multi problems . Let us know what you find .

[Puddington]

PM sent

[Missaberoad]

Was the cause discovered?

[SecretWeapon]

I bought a bunch of their EL-ERIE's. I sent them back & when I got them back, they still had problems. I'll never them again. I will say they are beautiful cars.Great detail. They just don't like running on tracks.

[peteski]

I bought a bunch of their EL-ERIE's. I sent them back & when I got them back, they still had problems. They just don't like running on tracks.

Could you expand on that Mike?  I'm sure we would all like to know more details.

[mecgp7]

Was the cause discovered?

Sorry I didn't get back to the thread until now. I was able to improve (not cure) the issue by tightening the gauge to just under the NMRA gauge. It appears that the outside surface of the wheels were rubbing on the inside of the trucks like they would if the gauge was way too wide. I think I would be able to fix it completely if I could move both wheels on the axle.
My original thread was in no way meant to be critical of the Rapido products. They contacted me within minutes of my post and offered replacement parts. They reported that some of the earliest run cars has some truck problems. Mine were from the earliest run. I did contact them directly and figured I'd throw it out to the Railwire hoping for a quick fix.

[mmagliaro]

When I saw this, I went to look at my one Rapido passenger car to see if I had
a problem with the car not rolling freely.

To my surprise, I had filed out the insides of the truck frames to clear the wheels!

I also drilled into the axle point holes a bit to deepen them because the axles couldn't quite
spin freely between the holes. 

 It had been so long I forgot I did this.    It does roll quite well now.

(Maybe if somebody has this problem and doesn't feel like returning their car, they will just want
to fix it themselves.  I don't know if it is as free-rolling as the replacements that Rapido gave you,
but it does work well.  )

[leedabsme74]

When I saw this, I went to look at my one Rapido passenger car to see if I had
a problem with the car not rolling freely.

To my surprise, I had filed out the insides of the truck frames to clear the wheels!

I also drilled into the axle point holes a bit to deepen them because the axles couldn't quite
spin freely between the holes. 

 It had been so long I forgot I did this.    It does roll quite well now.

(Maybe if somebody has this problem and doesn't feel like returning their car, they will just want
to fix it themselves.  I don't know if it is as free-rolling as the replacements that Rapido gave you,
but it does work well.  )

I ran into this issue several years ago when these cars first came out.  Worked on the axle points and wheel gauge.  They ran pretty well after that but could be better.  I didn't know about the wheel touching the inside of the truck.  I will check for that as well.  Rapido will send me some new axles when they come in stock again.  I want to address the point recess in the truck.  How did you do it?

[mmagliaro]

I have had other trucks where the axle just plain fits tight between the sideframes (due to the length of the axle, not from
the wheel faces touching the inside of the frame).

I have done it two ways.

Way 1:  (I like way 2 better, but ....)
I take something like a #72 bit in a pin vise and just drill "a little" into the point of the recess inside the truck frames.
It doesn't take much, so don't go hog wild.   I just drill until I see the first bit of plastic shaving come out and stop.
Do that on both sides and then try the wheelset a little.  Depending on how it fits, sometimes I have to drill with a larger
bit to open it up more near the mouth of the hole.

Way 2:
If you have jewelers reamers, use those instead of drill bits.  Just twirl a very small one down in the point of the hole,
and then use a larger one to open up the wider area of the hole.  I think it leaves a smoother finish and is more
controllable.

[thomasjmdavis]

Hmmmm.  The ones I purchased must be flawed- since mine all rolled fairly well out of the box with maybe a wheel adjustment here or there.  I have a couple GTW coaches from the very first run (bought on the first day they went on sale at MBK, IIRC) that are a little stiffer than the sleepers, but are still better than most of the non-Kato part of the fleet.

Speaking of coaches....any chance we will ever see a re-run of the CN cars in the 1954 scheme?

And I am beginning to think that the only way that Green sleepers will ever be produced in N will be for me to build 6 Athabasca kits.  THEN Rapido will bring them out.

[SecretWeapon]

I ordered 2 more years ago & forgot about them. When they showed up, it was time to figure out what was wrong with the old ones.
#1) they were too light. So I added weights.
#2) derail on straights. The weights helped. There was something wrong with the trucks. When they return the cars from Rapido, they included sets of new trucks. I started replacing the trucks on the cars that kept derailing. Check to make sure the wheel are in the pockets. I found quite a few out of place.
#3) I replaced all the batteries for the lights.

So, I now have a 12 cars EL Lake Cities train running flawlessly.

[Puddington]

For those awaiting replacement trucks I am told they are with the shipment due in within four weeks of the CN and VIA café bar lounges and 10-5 sleepers. If not the I will be going postal on a number of people half way around the world. Green sleepers.... not likely any time soon.... sorry!

[thomasjmdavis]

Green sleepers.... not likely any time soon.... sorry!

That's ok, building the Athabasca kits will be fun.

[CBQ Fan]

I just bought a cafe car and it appears one of the screws holes for the trucks was drilled at an odd angel causing the truck to bind and derail.   I have not had time to really do anything with it.