Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

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Daddyman
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Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Daddyman » Tue Jan 14, 2020 3:18 pm

Hello
I've recently finished my first P4 wagon, and am having a problem that isn't really addressed in the numerous other problems-with-my-first-wagon threads!
The wagon is a D&S van, whitemetal, so quite heavy. I've replaced all the underframe detail with MT etches and, crucially, BB suspension units. While I've had 00 wagons run perfectly smoothly with BB suspension units and Wizard wheels (many have passed the roll-off-the-workbench-on-to-the-floor "test"), I can't get it to work with the same combination of suspension and wheels in P4. Specifically, what's happening is that there's a lot of play in both wheelsets. I've located this play to the interface between the wheel and the bearing; at this point the wheel is free to move somewhere in the region of a millimetre (along the long axis of the wagon), which is obviously having a major impact on the clearance between the wheels and the brake shoes (i.e. the brakes are rubbing); the wheels barely spin by hand. The W-irons being vertical, the only possible cause I can see is that the pinpoints are either machined too deep, the wheel axle is too short, or the bearing needs packing inwards with a washer (another of these threads alludes to washers). Does my diagnosis sound plausible? What fixes would people suggest? Dave Bradwell cautions against the use of waisted bearings for his application, as they are machined shallower than other bearings, but I wonder if in this instance they would solve the problem? Incidentally, I have used standard top hat bearings (from Wizard, I think), whereas in my 00 models I've used waisted (same source).
Many thanks in advance for any help!
David Addyman.

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Tim V
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Tim V » Tue Jan 14, 2020 3:55 pm

Where to start?

What length are the axles? A lot of axles are under the recommended 26mm. Most I measured were 25.8mm. This can lead to slop.

Only 'some' of the pinpoint bearings are actually accurate and within tolerances. Mike Clark (Masokits) used to do a little etch to help you decide what depth of coning was appropriate. Me? I ended up specifying Exactoscale bearings - as only they met my needs.

What is the width between the faces of the W irons? It should be 24mm, but a lot are not - some can be considerably more.

A combination of some or all of these factors give rise to the slop you mention.
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

DaveHarris
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby DaveHarris » Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:14 pm

Tim,

Something in the back of my dusty mind says someone was/is producing small brass washers of varying thicknesses, presumably to help with the variations you describe?

Dave H

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Le Corbusier
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Le Corbusier » Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:46 pm

I have to admit I have always used waisted bearings with my BB W Irons ... I find that it vastly simplifies/minimises the creation of the recess within the axle boxes to allow the suspension to move up and down. My experience to date is that I have no problems with back to front slop. It might be worth trying some waisted bearings ... mine are Gibson ones.

Having set the wheel back to back I do make sure that there is next to no side to side movement by pinching them together - My Wheels were also from Wizard. I have also on occasion taken a file to the axle pinpoint effectively sharpening it to ensure the point properly bottoms out in the bearing, but generally I have not had to do this.

The caveat is that I am only onto my 10th wagon to date. ;)
Tim Lee

Martin M
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Martin M » Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:58 pm

I agree with Tim just squeeze the w irons together to remove slop... keep it simple?

Martin ;)

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Tim V
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Tim V » Tue Jan 14, 2020 5:05 pm

DaveHarris wrote:Tim,

Something in the back of my dusty mind says someone was/is producing small brass washers of varying thicknesses, presumably to help with the variations you describe?

Dave H

I think it was Masokits again.

Trouble is it's a workaround for poor quality components.

Also squeezing the W irons in just puts them at an angle. It they are vertical, the coning should match the pinpoint on the axle. Off vertical? Well you do the maths.
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

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Jol Wilkinson
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Jol Wilkinson » Tue Jan 14, 2020 5:09 pm

As Tim says, the w-irons need to be vertical and parallel for the sprung bearing carriers to move freely.

I find that I usually have to go through my collection of pin-point bearings to find some that will provide that with whichever axles I am using. Using "deep" bearings with packing washers as already referred to is another way of getting the geometry right.

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Le Corbusier
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Le Corbusier » Tue Jan 14, 2020 5:09 pm

Tim V wrote:[

Also squeezing the W irons in just puts them at an angle. It they are vertical, the coning should match the pinpoint on the axle. Off vertical? Well you do the maths.


With me the pinching is very minor and causes no discernible movement out of vertical, it just tightens things up a bit ... anyway it seems to work as the wagons are very free running with next to no slop. :thumb
Tim Lee

David Thorpe

Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby David Thorpe » Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:25 pm

On the other hand, when dealing with wagons with a wheelbase of less than, say, 10', many here would say that there's no need for any compensation or springing. Mind you, having said that, if you're building a kit it's maybe as easy to fit some form of springing as it is to ensure that the rigid underframe is completely square so that the wheels are all resting on the rails at the same time. I do think, however, that some forms of springing/compensation now on offer can be a bit over-engineered and over complicated. Nor are they always reliable.

DT

Daddyman
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Daddyman » Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:40 pm

Thanks for the replies.

Tim V wrote:Where to start?

What length are the axles? A lot of axles are under the recommended 26mm. Most I measured were 25.8mm. This can lead to slop.

Only 'some' of the pinpoint bearings are actually accurate and within tolerances. Mike Clark (Masokits) used to do a little etch to help you decide what depth of coning was appropriate. Me? I ended up specifying Exactoscale bearings - as only they met my needs.

What is the width between the faces of the W irons? It should be 24mm, but a lot are not - some can be considerably more.

A combination of some or all of these factors give rise to the slop you mention.


Axles are 25.9, W-iron b-to-bs are 23.8 - so it must all be in the bearings. Could the 0.2mm you quote really create the amount of slop I'm getting - or indeed any slop (as opposed to operational tolerance)?

[quote="Le Corbusier"] I have to admit I have always used waisted bearings with my BB W Irons ... I find that it vastly simplifies/minimises the creation of the recess within the axle boxes to allow the suspension to move up and down. My experience to date is that I have no problems with back to front slop. It might be worth trying some waisted bearings ... mine are Gibson ones.

I think you're right - my use of waisted bearings with BB units in 00 explains why they've always worked before.

DaveHarris
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby DaveHarris » Tue Jan 14, 2020 8:51 pm

For information guys. Alan Gibson sells shimming washers in packs of 30 in 1mm, 0.5mm, and 0.25mm thickness in 1/16, 1/8 and 2mm bore, to suit varying axle diameters refs 4M76/1 to 4m67/3 and 4M68 cover the items likely to be needed. Hope this is of some help?

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Guy Rixon
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Guy Rixon » Tue Jan 14, 2020 10:42 pm

Waisted bearings also vary in depth, between manufacturers and between batches from the same manufacturer. Traditionally, Gibson bearings tend to be shallower and Markits/Romford bearings deeper. The BB axleguards sold through Eileens need the shallow bearings and those in the Mousa kits generally need the deeper kind.

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Will L
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Will L » Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:40 pm

We've been here before, fairly often, try doing a forum search on "bearing depth". There can be a significant variation in 1, the distance between W irons, 2, axle lengths and 3, effective bearing depth. Particularly the last one. This only becomes a real issue with sprung systems at they do need vertical W irons to work as intended, while compensated or rigid axles are not so choosy. For them just bending the W irons in or out a bit is a viable option. You've just been lucky so far Tim. I think the very last section in the "Bearing and axle interfaces for coaches and wagons" write up on the CLAG website explains it all quite nicely. But then I would.

Despite the fact that people new to building sprung wagons keep on discovering the same issue, some experienced modellers seem not to be aware there is a problem and somehow it all works for them. They could just be lucky (I don't believe that), or maybe they have settled on the products of a small set of manufactures that are reliable compatible, or perhaps because they are just better at building things more consistently than those with less experience. None the less this has come up often enough to accept it is a real issue. It does no harm to know that it is necessary to ensure the effective length over the bearings and axle is just very slightly less than the width between W irons and this can take a little work. So yes, reducing the end float on those axles is the way to go, using which ever bearings or padding washers give the desired effect.

Daddyman
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Daddyman » Wed Jan 15, 2020 6:39 am

DaveHarris wrote:For information guys. Alan Gibson sells shimming washers in packs of 30 in 1mm, 0.5mm, and 0.25mm thickness in 1/16, 1/8 and 2mm bore, to suit varying axle diameters refs 4M76/1 to 4m67/3 and 4M68 cover the items likely to be needed. Hope this is of some help?

Thanks!

Guy Rixon wrote:Waisted bearings also vary in depth, between manufacturers and between batches from the same manufacturer. Traditionally, Gibson bearings tend to be shallower and Markits/Romford bearings deeper. The BB axleguards sold through Eileens need the shallow bearings and those in the Mousa kits generally need the deeper kind.


Very clear and helpful thanks, and I've now changed the bearings for waisted and the issue is solved.

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Le Corbusier
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Le Corbusier » Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:58 am

Will L wrote: This only becomes a real issue with sprung systems at they do need vertical W irons to work as intended, while compensated or rigid axles are not so choosy. For them just bending the W irons in or out a bit is a viable option. You've just been lucky so far Tim. I think the very last section in the "Bearing and axle interfaces for coaches and wagons" write up on the CLAG website explains it all quite nicely. But then I would.


Duly noted :thumb Very interesting link.

It would appear that by using the Eileens BB irons and the Gibson waisted bearings I seem to have happened by chance on a good fit with the batch I have. Thanks to David for raising a potential problem I don't seem to have encountered yet but undoubtedly will.
Tim Lee

DaveHarris
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby DaveHarris » Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:19 pm

I have just got back to my 'workbench' and decided to look at my stock of Society w irons and society supplied 3 hole disc wheels.

Following on Tims comment on the 14 Jan i find the following dimensions:

Axle length is 24.2.. (what happened to a standard 26mm?)

The back to back on the society W Irons is 21.81mm, not the 24mm Tim recommends???

I dont posess a degree in what ever. Surely if the spec for axles is 26mm axle length then that is what the society and others should be selling, and presumably the manufacturer should have checked the production batches before selling them on?

My results regarding the back to back of the W Irons poses the same questions regarding accuracy/quality control?

Can someone explain why we aren't getting what we think we are, and how do we overcome this?

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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby DaveHarris » Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:41 pm

A further check with another brand produces the following:

The Bill Bedford suspension units actually do measure 24mm back to back when folded up!

Given the length of axles I presume I will still need to use 'packing washers' to compensate for the incorrect axle length?

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Tim V
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Tim V » Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:42 pm

DaveHarris wrote:I have just got back to my 'workbench' and decided to look at my stock of Society w irons and society supplied 3 hole disc wheels.

Following on Tims comment on the 14 Jan i find the following dimensions:

Axle length is 24.2.. (what happened to a standard 26mm?)

The back to back on the society W Irons is 21.81mm, not the 24mm Tim recommends???

I dont posess a degree in what ever. Surely if the spec for axles is 26mm axle length then that is what the society and others should be selling, and presumably the manufacturer should have checked the production batches before selling them on?

My results regarding the back to back of the W Irons poses the same questions regarding accuracy/quality control?

Can someone explain why we aren't getting what we think we are, and how do we overcome this?


That is certainly a huge discrepancy on the axles. Send them back?

As for the W irons, you had me checking my information, yes it was 5'11½" so 24mm. Have you bent them correctly, I seem to remember the society ones being accurate?
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

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grovenor-2685
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby grovenor-2685 » Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:29 pm

DaveHarris wrote:I have just got back to my 'workbench' and decided to look at my stock of Society w irons and society supplied 3 hole disc wheels.
Following on Tims comment on the 14 Jan i find the following dimensions:
Axle length is 24.2.. (what happened to a standard 26mm?)
The back to back on the society W Irons is 21.81mm, not the 24mm Tim recommends???

I think you should double check those dimensions, given 21.8 is the dimensions of a wheelset over the outside of the wheels, a W-iron at that same dimension is useless. Also even the shorter 00 axles are usually at least 25 mm. I have a problem believing in 24.2 mm. If those dimensions are correct you should indeed send them all back to Jeremy.
Rgds
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Keith
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Tim V
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Tim V » Thu Jan 30, 2020 9:01 pm

I don't "recommend" these dimensions, they are the dimensions that items should accord with. Unfortunately, I have checked the S4 Digest (and the EMGS manual!) but these fundamental dimensions are not specified. No wonder more than one manufacturer got it wrong.

Of interest, the 2mm Scale Association actually do set out the specifications (attached). It occurs to me that this kind of information is sorely lacking in 4mm, perhaps someone needs to sit down and draw it out.
2mm standards.jpg
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Tim V
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DaveHarris
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby DaveHarris » Thu Jan 30, 2020 11:08 pm

Thanks for the replies guys.

I bent up the sides of the w irons using a 'hold and fold' on the etched line, and did the same on the Bill Bedford ones as well.

I have since double checked my measurements and they still come out the same.

The wheel sets were bought several years ago and I feel it would be unfair to attempt to return them now, as indeed it would be to return the W Irons.

I will probably go over to the Bill Bedford system as this seems to be the most accurate (based on my finding here). Luckily despite being a member for a number of years , i have done little modelling, but am starting a small effort now. This thread came at the right time and cleared up the reasons for some of my frustrations... but created others! It certainly gets the grey cells working and saves senility setting in!

Given comments earlier in this thread I will try some 'packing' to try to get acceptable fits, but have my reservations.

I think Tim is right, the 4mm scene of whatever 'persuasion' needs to set out and draw up exact dimensions as the 2mm boys have, this should then avoid any further variations on a theme.

Happy and maybe frustrating modelling guys!

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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Philip Hall » Fri Jan 31, 2020 12:41 am

The solution to the axle problem is to obtain new ones, I think Ultrascale and Alan Gibson can supply. Yours must indeed be rogues - I have had 25.95 before now but never as short as yours. Ultrascale and AG normally come out at 25.98 or 25.99.

One possibility, in early RTR days Lima stock ran on much shorter axles than the norm, and I seem to recall that some special axles were produced to cater for conversions. Could it perhaps be that you were sold some of these by mistake?

Philip
Last edited by Philip Hall on Fri Jan 31, 2020 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

billbedford

Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby billbedford » Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:36 am

DaveHarris wrote:
The back to back on the society W Irons is 21.81mm, not the 24mm Tim recommends???


I would check that your verniers are correctly zeroed. there is no wear on etching tools so there can't be 'rogue' etches.

I dont posess a degree in what ever. Surely if the spec for axles is 26mm axle length then that is what the society and others should be selling, and presumably the manufacturer should have checked the production batches before selling them on?


There was never a 'spec' for these things. The Scalefour Society drawing of the bearings was produced 5-10 years after various manufacturers had been producing them, and none of the products who were active at the time brought their products into line with the drawings.

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Tim V
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby Tim V » Fri Jan 31, 2020 10:22 am

Regarding the 'spec', here is the RCH drawing giving the inside dimensions of the W irons.
RCH Spec.jpg
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grovenor-2685
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Re: Another newcomer's question re wagon suspension

Postby grovenor-2685 » Fri Jan 31, 2020 10:45 am

The Standard axle length, and W-iron spacing were defined here
https://www.scalefour.org/history/protofoursociety/manual/4.1.12-rolling-stock/
And, for many years commercial 00 wheelsets from Hornby and Bachmann used the same 26 mm axle length. Only in recent years with fragmented manufacture in China have some of the Hornby/Bachmann models turned up with short axles. Lima always were short as they seemed to use their standard H0 design.

Dave, do you have the part no for your Society W-irons? I may well have some I could check.
Rgds
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Keith
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