Question re MTL SD40s

Which sets of wheels on the trucks of the MTL SD40s are driven, and which sets are used to pick up current from the track? I have made the perhaps unwarranted assumption that all the wheels on each truck are driven and that the outer sets pick up the track power.

ausman2001 wrote:

Which sets of wheels on the trucks of the MTL SD40s are driven, and which sets are used to pick up current from the track? I have made the perhaps unwarranted assumption that all the wheels on each truck are driven and that the outer sets pick up the track power.

As manufactured and delivered all wheels are driven and all wheels can pick up power, but in reality only 4 axes have wheels that touch the track, hence 4 axle power pick-up and 4 axles power the train.

The center axle has blind drivers, which means no flanges, in addition the wheels are several though undersized so the tread does not touch the rail if the track is dead flat. That said they are connected to the axle cone pickup system for electrical power and they are geared so they rotate. If you were to replace the blind driver with flanged drivers then you would have true 6 axles driven and 6 axles picking up power.

I have put Bull Frog Snot on my blind drivers and that increases the pulling power of the engine. This in essence means the engine has 6 axles driven or powered and 4 axle with electrical pickup.

cheerz
Garth

Many thanks Garth for your clear and informative reply. Bullfrog Snot is exactly what I had in mind, but I didn't want to put it onto wheels that normally pick up current.

I took a different aproach. I took the blind wheels and replace it with flange ones. Now it pulls like a mule and goes though turnouts like it doesnt exist.

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/picture.php?albumid=60&pictureid=14074

Where would you get flanged wheels for it?

Ben, thats the hard part. I had a dcc accident and toasted my trucks. Loren send me a replacement truck. I dont think he has extras.

As for me, I'll go with the Bullfrog Snot. I don't fancy the idea of taking a truck to pieces and putting it back together again!