Wobbly Polar Express with Whistle Steam

I am going to suggest that it is something else.  That locomotive is die cast and I doubt there is enough tension to push the loco upward.

Check the traction tires.  There is a groove in the wheel to which the tire(s) are mounted.  Make sure the rubber (looks like a rubber band, probably black) is 'seated' properly in the groove and there are no twists.

Make sure you have all the traction tires on.  Again, check for wheels with slots/grooves where the traction tires would be seated. You could have 1 or more, so it just depends on model.  I would suggest using a bright flashlight and inspect each drive wheel closely - even using magnifying glass so that your eyes do not decieve you.

I personally think a traction tire or lack of traction tire issue.

Hope that helps.

Yes I've had this run like a duck as well, it took 2 attempts with replacement wheel sets from Lionel but now running like it should.

James 

Had the same issue with mine and sent it back to Lionel Service for warranty repairs and they replaced the entire wheel set.

They even fixed the steam chest and repacked my smoke unit and I didn't even know I had an issue with it.

Great turnaround time too!!

George

And in a related question.....   did you guys who own this find the "whistle steam" effect on this unit made it worth the price of an entire Polar Express set?  I have not seen one of these running, but am just wondering as I have heard at least one person say the whistle-steam effect was disappointing.

Well the traction tires are installed properly and I can see nothing wrong with the wheels during a cursory inspection.  I will look more closely tomorrow.  Ron, my first PEWS came in and the fan unit for the whistle did not work right out of the box.  Retailer sent out another one, and it works nicely on the one I have.  It also comes with a die cast metal tender with Railsounds.  Great quilling whistle and nice sound effects.  No static either, unlike my Trainsounds Tender.

A crooked wheel won't be very obvious to a visual inspection.  put the loco upside down in a cradle and connect power to it, and you should be able to see if any of the wheels are not square to the axle.

I bench tested it inverted.  Wobbly wheels all over the place!  She will be riding Big Brown today back home for service.  The other one I had to send back to the retailer for a inop WS effect had the same issue.  I wonder what's going on?  If it was a scale loco I'd be really super PO'd.  Quality control anyone?  Or do people just buy shelf queens nowadays?

RadioRon, I purchased the PEWS with tender separately.

If you can get the whole set at a good price, go for it.

There is a youtube video showing the PEWS in action, based on the video I purchased the PEWS.  Just do a search.

My only concern is that a number of us had wobble problem and maybe some sort of factory defect, but Lionel has been there to repair it.

George

hello guys and gals............

I had a union pacific version of that same locomotive about 3 years ago and sure enough mine had the geared driver that wobbled badly like the driver wheel (both wheels) was not squared to the axle too. So much for lionel's poor QA.

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678

Tiffany

George, I think the "PEWS" has only been made available separately as engine/tender.