Subject:
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Re: Train Wheel Friction?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Tue, 25 Feb 2003 17:54:44 GMT
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Viewed:
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1562 times
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"Paul S. D'Urbano" <durbano@optonline.net> wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, Mark Riley writes:
> > I've been using a hobby knife to remove a small bit of plastic where the
> > wheels rub the block as mentioned in this thread:
> >
> > http://news.lugnet.com/trains/?n=18127
> >
> > This mod is easy to perform and allows the wheels to run very smooth
> > and noiselessly.
>
>
> I while back I went out and bought a jeweler's file for the same reason.
> I still haven't had the nerve to use it yet. I tend to lean towards being • a
> purist so deliberately disfiguring my LEGO gives me the creeps. I plan to
> wait for a situation where I'm so frustrated that I can't take it anymore.
> So far the trains run good enough so I'm happy.
I tried a Dremel tool, a small file and a hobby knife (in that
order). Of those, the knife produced the best results by far.
Not only is it quicker, but there is little or no collateral damage
to the block. Also, for some reason I've found the light gray
blocks are easier to cut (like butter) than the black blocks.
> Maybe I'm a wimp, but I feel a little uneasy about doing this.
I justified the mod to myself by saying that the block is a "working"
component and what I'm doing is akin to applying grease to a
bearing (if you follow me). Also, you can't even see anything amiss
unless you turn your train car upside down and look closely at the
wheel block.
> I think my Metroliner is the best case for complaint but there is
> nothing noticably wrong with the wheels by visual inspection.
My test is to hold the wheel assembly upside down and spin the
wheels. Almost all of my wheel sets exhibited an obvious
plastic-on-plastic rubbing sound. After the mod, they spin
noiselessly. This was enough for me to set aside any
squeamishness I had and perform the mod on the rest of my
wheel sets.
Thanks for the reply,
Mark
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Train Wheel Friction?
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| (...) My modest LEGO train collection consists of one MOT kit, one Santa Fe Kit (full train, not starter), and one Metroliner kit. These are all sets with the "new" wheelsets. For the most part I think I lucked out with the MOT and Santa Fe. Both (...) (22 years ago, 21-Feb-03, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.lego.direct)
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