This post will now contain all of the important information posted in this thread.
Original Post:
ADVICE FOR KEEPING SPEED:I'm bulding a coaster longer than I've built before (I can tell b/c I'm running out of peices....and I don't enough to buy more.......:sdd )....well, It has three chain hills on it b/c I keep a ton of speed........wondering if, not for this one, it's already almost done, but for future reference if there's a way to not kill as much speed.......
Triple track, triple tube, and connect the track to the supports in the most ways possible. Also, you can wipe furniture polish on the rails and spray the wheels and axles (wipe them off after running them on the track a couple of times)
Here are some of my best tips on how to keep speed effectively:
1. Make the track as smooth as possible. All transitions need to be gradual and "flowing".
2. Support the track all that you can. This helps reduce the amount the entire structure moves while the train goes through it. This and smoothing the track are, IMO, the two best ways to keep speed.
3. Use WD40, silicone spray, or another lubricant to lube the train wheels and track.
4. Weight the train. This is only if the structure has very good supports and doesn't move much. It should be used as a last resort. Weighting the trains will cause much more strain on the supports so use sparingly.
smooth transitions smooth tarck ridgid fast lift hill bearings for wheels wd-40 dry lube all this will help out
Just make sure transistions/curves arn't too tight, lube your train, and support your track. No need for bearings in the wheels, hard enough to find bearings that small, and expensive.
On Troglodyte, WD-40 didn't work for me, so I used household oil. Now it's working perfectly. Weight and more supports also help, like everyone else already said.
there are three things I have always done to get the most out of m coaster:
use wd40 or some other light lube on the wheel axels. I've used my trumpet valve oil and i find that works better than the wd40.
keep your supports strong and stiff. if you find that you can't build very stiff supports you're probably building too big of a coaster.
add weights to the bottom of the cars. what i've done is tape 5 quarters together in a stack and then tape them very securely to the bottom cavity of each car (or as many as your supports can handle). be very careful with this, however; if the weights can move at all inside the cars it will kill your speed tremendously. also, like said above, if your supports aren't strong enough you can lose more speed and possibly damage your supports.
after doing all of that it's up to your layout. good luck.
