Microtrains SP B unit Dummy problems

I recently acquired a new Southern Pacific F7 A powered unit and a B unit (dummy). The B unit does not roll well and therefore the F7 struggles to pull it.It does not appear broken. But it is definitely binding. Is this a common problem with the Microtrains B units? If so - what is the fix?

I don't have the links at work on how to fix the B's but others will chime in or I'll catch up to it this weekend. Basically, you need to modify the truck assy. There are two ways to do it. Once you get the links, it will be clear.

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z

Jeff, please post the links when you gat a chance. I have a fellow club member with several B units, and they all need help to stop the dragging problem.

Thanks,

Tony B...
Wasatch Z ClubB)

Scott,

another option is to contact Glen Chenier (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). He's the godfather of the F7 :).
He's doing all sorts of optimizations like wheelwipers, LED lights and powered B-units.

Regards,
Gerd

Thanks to all who posted a reply. Is this typical of all MT B units out of the box? Both my SP B units are equally stiff even though they are brand new. I remember a few years ago reading that Microtrains sent out shims as a fix...but not sure if I am mistaken.

Well, I hope somebody will post the link to the web page about improving B unit etc
It's been driving me nuts since yesterday - I distinctly remember this excellent website (not be confused with wheelwipers mentioned elsewhere) but don't seem to be able to find it in my favorites
Chris

I was going through the back issues of Ztrack to see if I can find the announcement. We did run an article on the MTL shims many years ago. MTL offered these for free to help the F7 B axles roll freely. I am not sure if they helped much. You may want to contact a MTL dealer about getting these parts.

In my searching, I found two back issues that may be of interest. The September/October 2001 issue of Ztrack features and article on powering and close coupling MTL F7 B unit. It also has color photos of Uncle Will's custom painted Conrail, Penn Central and Reading MTL F7 As. Incidentally, this is the same issue that MTL announced their UP F7B.

The other issue that may be of interest is the November/December 2002 issue of Ztrack It has an article on dealing NYC MTL F7 A units. The also has a number of great photos of Hugh Long's NYC layout.

The links are:

www.ztrack.com/issues/issues_01.html

www.ztrack.com/issues/issues_02.html

These back issues are still in stock. As always, there is no shipping and handling charges to US address. We also discount shipping for low quantity international orders.

Rob

I have managed to scratch the "itch" that was bothering me for the last couple of days
The page I was talking about:
F7 Rolling Mods
hope it helps you as well

Chris

Thanks for finding and posting this info Chris. I've already sent the link on to my buddy that has two B units with this dragging problem. However after reading the page, i doubt he's gping to like or want to make the repairs himself....LOL

Tony B..
Wasatch Z ClubB)

Chris, thank for Link

...and Glen just put in DCC for me [Digitrax DZ125] in an F7A and plans to do his first DCC install in an F7B in the spring.

...don

Thanks for the link!
I just modified the SP F-7B truck frames and they work much better now. A GREAT fix!
Thanks and here they are in action on the Truckee River Layout.

Bill Mock

Bill,
Thanks for the video. Looks like they run pretty smooth.

Thanks,

Jerry

ztrack wrote:

I was going through the back issues of Ztrack to see if I can find the announcement. We did run an article on the MTL shims many years ago. MTL offered these for free to help the F7 B axles roll freely. I am not sure if they helped much.

In my case it was of no help.... As I'm now putting my F-Units away I don't deal anymore with this problem but when my F-Unit fleet was still my backbone I was simply considering transforming them into powered units by swapping their chassis with powered samples....

Dom

Having sorted out rolling, there still one thing that winds me up when it comes to running F7 A-B unit.
I have them closely coupled, by removing two centre couplers and replacing them with a close link.
This makes it look much more prototypically close together, but also exaggerates (or at least makes it more visible) the fact that they seem to be riding "wonky" one of them leaning to the left and the other to the right.
I guess most of the people wouldn't even notice but that's the trouble for some of us - we can see it
Later designs GP35 etc are perfect by comparison in this respect