The Hippy Hippy Shakes (or Bad wheelsets)

[SirTainly]

I've just been test running some new cars (thanks Chuck) and one of the new Athearn ones has a bad case of the shakes (and a couple of others have lesser symptoms). The problem it would seem is caused by one or two of the wheelsets - but I'm not really sure what the cause is, is it bent axels or the fact that the axel is unbalanced due to the casting imperfections ?

Swapping to Atlas or FVM wheelsets solves the problem, which is what I've done for now.

[kiwi_al]

Hi Simon,
Unfortunately you have received a batch of Southern Hemisphere cars, they won't run well at all in the Northern Hemisphere where you are located. The only thing you can do is send them all to me  ;D ;D ;D

I didn't notice any probs but then again I swap out the wheelsets for metal ones before I run them

 

[Robbman]

Poor molding, poor QC, poor attempt at copying the SDK wheel... pick your poison.

Use MT length axles in the newer Athearn trucks...

[SirTainly]

Ha Alister..not falling for that one again!

I would swap everything for FVM wheels except I've only got a few left and I'm saving those for some kits that would benefit from any extra weight, so Atlas' MTL sized ones will have to do.

Also I'm finding on the new Athearn cars the McHenry's like to shed their springs - one had popped off in the box, and another has either flown off before packing, or has zinged off somewhere in my room. Can these be obtained separately? I've found an MTL spring will work in place, but it's a bit large and not really a discreet colour.

Robb - could be, think I'll just pool my Athearn wheels, after swapping out a few and see if I can get some decents sets out of of what's left.

[wm3798]

I've been wondering how those springs would hold up...

Lee

[SirTainly]

I've been wondering how those springs would hold up...

Lee

To be fair, they might be fine, my package got knocked about in transit. I've just found that one of the jewel cases had taken a blow to the underneath, causing quite some damage (car inside wasn't broken luckily).

[Mark5]

I've been wondering how those springs would hold up...

Lee

Once I saw how long the knuckle was on these I decided I was not a customer for McHenrys. I was hoping for a third option in couplers but the length of these pretty much guarantees "extra" space between cars.

Mark

[Robbman]

Oddly enough... Athearn is still using Rapido-compatible boxes on it's trucks.