Heljan 2701 BR Blue diesel.

1892 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by double00, May 23, 2007

double00

Discussion Starter · May 19, 2007

Any Forum member bought the new Heljan 2701 diesel locomotive

Running it on your layout, how have you found it in performance

On running my latest acquisition of the Heljan 2701, find that running it in reverse with no coaches or wagons hitched on - it runs over the track and points with no mishaps. On reverse with coaches or and wagons coupled up to the Heljan 2701, the nearest coach or wagon to the 2701 derails together with the 2701 itself.
Running the 2701 plus coaches or wagons in forward direction, derails on some of the points. Using a large oval track layout, with no points fitted - 2701 runs without any mishaps or derailment of itself or attached coaches/wagons.
None of the other Heljan various diesel locomotives in my fleet, show this fault. My thoughts are to the fault lying with the couplings or bogie's, though bogie's appear to swivel easily.
A feed back from the members will be most appreciated.

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Peter_Harvey

· #2 · May 19, 2007

have you got the knuckle coupling in the lowered position as I have found that the knuckle coupling restricts the movement of nmra pocket and tension lock coupling.

I have move the knuckle coupling in to the raised position and its fine.

A question for you what are you supposed to do with the card templates that they give you as I don't understand why they are there?

Pete

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spongebob

· #3 · May 19, 2007

I found with one or other of the heljans (26 or 27 not sure which) the bogey was quite tight at one end, the offending loco has been put away for a while now and I can't recall if I rectified it or just identified the problem. If i remember correctly the sideframes at one end fouled some part of either the body or chassis resulting in too little turn. It seemed to effect just one end and was partly due I think to the sideframes being a bit loose.
I'll dig it out and get back to you.

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double00

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 20, 2007

Peter_Harvey - you mention the "knuckle coupling", am I correct in thinking your reference is what looks to me as a "chain" roughly half an inch long! This "knuckle coupling" certainly appears to foul the normal NMRA coupling pocket and tension Heljan coupling. Templates, not quite sure of what you mean, sorry!
How is the best way to raise the "knuckle coupling" without damage or breaking it off? Thanks for your help.

spongebob - long time since hearing from you!
Your are quite correct, both the bogie's are slightly tight, worse when reaching below body sides.
Black plastic sides are certainly not very secure due to poor tightness between side frames socket and body pillars. From what you say, the 2701 fault I am experiencing is a poor design in manufacture and only Heljan can rectify.
When ordering replacement side frames, apparently Heljan must supply side frames in pairs. One pair of side frames has one side frame showing what resembles a cast hydraulic pipe. Certainly Heljan reference is B30 x2off body side frame.

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spongebob

· #5 · May 21, 2007

Sussed out the problem I was trying to describe. I have a class 26 and 27 with the same problem, basically there is a lack of side to side movement in one bogey only (fan end in both mine). The bogey is fastened to the chassis by means of a plastic tube whic runs side to side and just sticks through the cast chassis, on the offending bogey this pipe has some flashing which needs cleaning off (presumably from the moulding process). A bit fiddly if you aren't too keen on stripping the thing right down but also on the other bogey the speedo drive looks worryingly close to the body lifting point(?) when put into a turn and maybe this can cause problems too.
I have also I suspect sprained the mounting points on a couple of bogey sideframes as there are a couple of white stretch marks on them but they don't feel too loose.
Curiously the 33 I have despite being the same chassis doesn't suffer from the problems but it may have been sorted before I bought it second hand.

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double00

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 22, 2007

Referring to the bogie's' side frames - one of the two securing tube type fasteners, on examination this showed one of the tubes was partially broken off causing the side frame to be loose and in my case falling off or falling down as it did at first and rubbing along the track. No doubt this problem also caused the derailment of the 27 when reversing over the points. All side frames show a degree of tight fit.
The side frames are certainly not a tight fit on the 27. Side frames are not interchangeable and one side frame has a molded pipe protruding at the bottom of the side frame. When ordering a spare set of side frames will require B30 x(2) B71 x(2) if I am reading the spares list correctly.

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papamikepapa

· #7 · May 23, 2007

The side frames are certainly not a tight fit on the 27. Side frames are not interchangeable and one side frame has a molded pipe protruding at the bottom of the side frame. When ordering a spare set of side frames will require B30 x(2) B71 x(2) if I am reading the spares list correctly.

Hiya, I've had a few of these locos 2 x 26 2x 27 2 x 33 (the same chassis), and not yet had any problems as you describe. The bogie side frames are interchangeable, they use the same mounts. They are 'handed' i.e. left and right hand. It may seem daft but check the bogie sideframes all have the steps at the outer end as here.
http://greengoscalerail.fotopic.net/p40016405.html
I have had the screw coupling, (the scale coupling chain on the front), get trapped between the top of the bogie frame and bufferbeam which has restricted the bogie swing once. By untrapping it the problem resolves itself. I've had all the bogie side frames off all my locos, there is one with a speedo drive see above pic, which I think is the 'pipe' you may be reffering to. There should be one of these per loco and on the No2 end, i.e. opposite end to the roof mounted fan. This should also give you the clue which side frames to order if you need a replacement. When refitting the side frames push them on firmly so they are properly located.

The 27's came with some pipes fitted, if you are using the tension lock couplings and have left the pipes on, then these may be the problem. I don't use tension lock, but as you mention it only happens with coupled stock, I think its possibly a problem there, rather than with the bogie mechanism or design. One option wopuld be take the pipes off and see if the same thing happens.

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double00

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 23, 2007

Hi pipamikepipa, your comment on the Heljan plastic side frames is very helpful. As you say if a requirement for replacement side frames is needed, care must be made to ensure which end of the Heljan 27 and if noting the right or left of the grill located on the 27 then it should be straight forward in obtaining the correct plastic side frame. Reference to the molded pipe, this is probably correctly described by you as "speedo drive" - the black coloured pipe that I refer to being part of the mold of one only side frame, as none of the other three side frames show this pipe.
Unfortunately, my model of the Heljan 27 came with plastic side frame loose, owing to one of the securing pillars being partially broken off (probably the assembler person not bothered to replace).
I have too, three Class 33s, with similar plastic side frames fitted to the Class27 and none of the 33s have broken or bad fitting side frames.
I have read several reviews on the 33s and 27s, each time pointing out the side frames being a weak point and would benefit if side frames where part of the bogy body mold.

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