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Post by IronMan on Jun 6, 2004 9:01:44 GMT -5
Hi guys,
Well the springs are made and they are on the trucks. With none to spare, actualy I was not able to finish the last one. I had to use one that was not so good, I am reordering some wire this week and will make a better one. I did it with .100 it was not dificult, I still have .080 wire that has not arrived yet, but I could not wait I had to see anyhow. I will post some picture latter on today. This is all fine and dandy but the questions that begs to be asked is how much is all these spring are supposed to give ? what is an acceptable compression of a fully loaded tender, 1/8 - 1/4 ?? What happens if the springs are too hard and dont give much ? When I stood up on the tender frame, it did not give, if I jump a bit it gives a little, there is still quite of bit of weight to go on . So it would appear that my original idea of having to bring it to the tracks and do some testing and see if someone knows anything about the recommended give or approximate that I should shoot for. I may make some with .080 and see the difference. I will post my findings in the near future. If anyones has got some questions fire away.
Regards, IronMan
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Post by DavidT on Jun 6, 2004 19:01:16 GMT -5
I read someplace that a truck should roll over a 1/4" bump without lifting the other three wheels. This is by hand and not loaded. Based on what I have seen at our club track, you would want the springs to start to compress when loaded with an adult, or a "normal" heavy load. We ride two persons per car. Two kids wil lnot compress the springs and they ride rough, but they do not know that. Too much gap under the pads on the bolster pads is more of a problem, because the car rocks too much! I have not seen any rules about spring loading. Put your question up on the www.chaski.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php forum in the live steam section and see what those guys suggest.
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Post by IronMan on Jun 14, 2004 15:45:24 GMT -5
Hello,
I made and installed the new springs made out of .080 wire. It took a little while longer to figure the right diameter for the rod, because there was a little more spring back. It has a made a difference but I dont think that is it the answer to my problems yet. I will only know that when the tender is completed and fully loaded and operational, I may have to change the springs again. It will all depend on how it rides and how it handles itself. One thing I know for sure is that the springs in .100 appear to be way too stiff, a better choice would perhaps be .085 maybe even .090 . I am however not going to find out, I have spent enough money so far on springs, and I must be content with what I have for the moment. I dont know if a combination of springs will work, it is another option but once again one that can not be verified just yet. Well this is it for this saga, now I must move on to another.. making the braking system for the tender, while continuing to do some sheet metal work. I hope that someone will benefit from all this, it was an expensive learning experience.
Good Luck IronMan ;D
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Post by patyoung on Jun 14, 2004 19:24:07 GMT -5
Much thanks for you sharing your experience... Even though I'm not building a 1 1/2 scale locomotive I wanted to again express how much enjoyment I had in reading your various threads! It sounds like you are a bit depressed at the whole affair and if there is anything I can do to help out, please let me know. Regards, Pat Young
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Post by IronMan on Jun 15, 2004 9:15:55 GMT -5
Hello Pat,
Thanks for the encouragement, I am just a little depressed about the whole thing because I have wasted some valuable time and some money. However I am a little worried about what else in this project will I have to experiment with to get it right and at what costs? I know it is part of the job, but I hope that there is not too many snaggs, they kind of bring down your enthousiasm. Now I know we are not the first ones to scale up this design, it would just be nice if we had someone who's done it to give us some advise, the ways things look our mistakes will help others, that is fine by me, I just dont like making them for the fun of it. Now if I had an unlimited source of funds........ ;D
Have fun, IronMan
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Post by phill3006 on Jun 18, 2004 5:23:05 GMT -5
g'day ironman hope you are not to down as it is easy to get put off something as big a project as we are doing.perhaps it is time to build the frame or whatever to get the mind free.it is off little help to you but i am sure you have made it alot easier for the next round of builders with your detailed info.anyway keep it up mate and think off the fun it will bring. regards from oz phill3006
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Post by patyoung on Jun 21, 2004 20:15:47 GMT -5
Hi Ironman, This may be late, but I found a web site that has some information about winding springs. It's at home.earthlink.net/~bazillion/intro.html I'm wondering if we can contact a commercial outfit like littleengines.com and get some advice. Or if someone has plans for a 1 1/2 scale locomotive with tender, they could pass on dimensions for the springs. Pat Y.
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Post by Jim O'Connor on Jun 22, 2004 18:20:37 GMT -5
I've goofed around with the springs on my box cab and the 2 cars I've built from scratch. I've found that the springs should be almost fully compressed when loaded down with riders.
I started out thinking the springs should be 50% compressed at full load. I've come to the conclusion that you need very little spring in reserve. It's more important that the wheels can drop down to follow a dip in the track than absorb a bump.
I've done my springs by trial and error. Leaf springs are easer cause you can add a leaf or two if necessary.
Jim.
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Post by IronMan on Jun 28, 2004 4:34:45 GMT -5
Hello Guys,
I have been busy working on the frame, slow but steady.... For the springs, the final chapter will not be for some time, Like Jim says trial and error and I will not be able to do that till everything is completed. It will be in the fine turning part of the project, not for quite some time. Knowing that there must be some compression on the springs helps, so I would rule out using .100 perhaps a combination will be the final answer. I will have a few more grey hairs by the time I get that figured out !!
Keep on track ! IronMan ;D
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Post by phill3006 on Jun 28, 2004 4:45:24 GMT -5
ironman i am testing some springs now for my trucks to see the loading i can put on them will let you know how it all goes must admit they are off the shelf units regards phill3006
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Post by IronMan on Jun 28, 2004 15:21:31 GMT -5
G'Day Phill,
How are you comming along on the rest of your project? I sure would like to see some pics of it. ;D Good luck with the springs and let us know how it turns out. But I think that the final answer will depend on when the project is competed and is at the final tinkering stage. Driver body weight and how it is distributed will certainly have a say in the final equation !
Take care IronMan
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