
Check that the main bodies of the nylon
insulators supplied are a free fit through
washers P3.
On a piece of 30thou plastic card, mark out
two rectangles 8.5mm x 14mm. Find the
centres of the rectangles and make a 3mm
diameter hole at each, to clear the main body
of the nylon insulators. Cut out the rectangles,
and deburr their edges.
Fit the bogies - with their plastic card spacers - into the chassis block, using just the
tag washers, P2, and the M2 screws. Swivel the bogies into position for straight track,
and do up the M2 screws just enough to clamp the components closely together.
Refit the body, place the loco onto a piece of straight, level track and check the ride
height. If necessary, substitute different thicknesses of plastic card spacer until the
desired height is achieved.
Ride height is normally set to give a nominal buffer height of around 13.8mm above
rail level. You may well find that there is a variation in the order of 0.5mm over the
four buffers, just in the way that they've been fitted to the loco. You might also wish to
check the maximum height overall, and then reflect on whether the manufacturer has got
the buffers in the right place. Ultimately, working to tenths of millimetres, it will be a
judgement call as to exactly where the correct ride height lies.
Once you are satisfied with the spacers, dismantle the loco once more. Remove the
bogies from the chassis block, and remove the Bolsters from the Subframes. To
remove the bolsters, gently pull them upwards, at the same time using a small screwdriver
to push the springs inwards and out of their slots in the bolster seats.
Shorten the nylon insulators so that, when
inserted into the chassis block through the
Pivot Washer, P3, they project below the Pivot
Plate, P1, by less than the thickness of the
plastic card spacer.
You can put the insulator over a 2 or
2.1mm drill, held in a pin chuck. This will
prevent the insulator from collapsing while you
roll it on the edge of a hard surface and make
the cut with a sharp knife.
Bachmann 66: Springs, Bogie Assembly and Rolling Test
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(c) PenBits Model Railways, All Rights Reserved
27/09/2021
Summary of Contents for Bachmann Class 66
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