2 rail at last

[Strummer]

That's quite the tale...

Mark in Oregon

[robert.]

Which Kaddes to use? I need to get some couplers. Are these fine?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-5-Each-K ... SwHaBWivXP

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Which Kaddes to use? I need to get some couplers. Are these fine?

For most applications, yes. Shopping around is a good thing

[robert.]

I could use some more help. I want to screw some trucks to a plastic car frame. what size screw is needed?

[rrjjf]

Robert,

How large is the hole in the truck bolster? Are there existing holes in the car floor bolster? I generally use a No 4 round head machine screw to install trucks but this can vary. A No. 4 machine screw measures about 0.110" OD. This is not rocket science. Any screw that fits snugly into the car floor and allows the truck to swivel without biding should be OK. No. 4 machine screws are available in almost all hardware stores. I buy them by the hundreds on line from McMaster Carr.

Joe

[robert.]

I understand it is not rocket science. I was hoping to get an answer before i left the dentist office. This way i can buy some on the way home without the car body in hand. No 4 helped. thanks

[robert.]

As the soreness wanes from banging my forehead against the wall. Can somebody walk me through building these trucks. Maybe i should just place them firmly in my right hand, open the door with my left and toss them into the yard. In a week or so i'll get a set of metal ones. There must be an easy way to assemble these.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Can somebody walk me through building these trucks.

Brand?

[robert.]

InterMountain. They may only be good for a static display.

[sarge]

Intermountain. I love them; they were my standard Bet truck when i modelled US outline. They are excellent trucks!

Take the bolster (B) and set the sideframes (A) into position.

Push the springplank through both sideframes into position under the bolster. The indents for the springs face up toward the bolster.

Take a #2 pencil and slip it between the middle of the plank and the bolster to bend the springplank enough to slide the springs with the brakeshoes (the left E) in between the end of the bolster and the indents of the springplank, They go inside into the sideframes with shoes pointed down. Once you've weedled them in place, pull the pencil out and the springplank will go straight again and capture those springs.

Then push the springs without the shoes (the right E) in place from the outside of the sideframes.

Your done. the springpads (D) are surplus.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Intermountain. I love them; they were my standard Bet truck when i modelled US outline. They are excellent trucks!

Take the bolster (B) and set the sideframes (A) into position.

Push the springplank through both sideframes into position under the bolster. The indents for the springs face up toward the bolster.

Take a #2 pencil and slip it between the middle of the plank and the bolster to bend the springplank enough to slide the springs with the brakeshoes (the left E) in between the end of the bolster and the indents of the springplank, They go inside into the sideframes with shoes pointed down. Once you've weedled them in place, pull the pencil out and the springplank will go straight again and capture those springs.

Then push the springs without the shoes (the right E) in place from the outside of the sideframes.

Your done. the springpads (D) are surplus.

Silly question - at what point in the above does one insert the wheelsets????

[sarge]

Silly answer; whenever you want after assembly, just like an Athearn truck.

They take the same wheelsets as the Athearn. I'd recommend NWSL or Intermountain metal wheelsets.

Robert, now is probably a good time to advise you to pick a standard wheel and a standard coupler for all your stock. It makes maintenance and tuning very much easier when you aren't dealing with a variety.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

And that's the rest of the story.......

And another good idea --standardization!!!

[robert.]

These silly spring pads were driving me crazy. Thanks

[Rufus T. Firefly]

These silly spring pads were driving me crazy. Thanks

Well, that is their purpose; induction of insanity.