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Coupler Repair

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Coupler Repair
Posted by JAMES TAYLOR on Thursday, March 31, 2016 3:30 PM

I have a Lionel 3520 Searchlight Car which has 480-1 coupler truck.  The entire knuckle has come off the truck. What is the part number of the rivet needed to reattach the coupler to the truck? Page 652 of "Greenbergs Repair and Operating Manual for Lionel Trains 1945-1969" refers to it as "Rivet A" in Figure 7.  No part number is provided. Where can one be obtained? 

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Friday, April 1, 2016 6:41 AM

The rivet is integral to the 480-31 knuckle casting. Some parts suppliers have the 480-31 with a screw instead of the rivet for installation without a press.

Rob

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, April 1, 2016 6:50 AM

Just a thought but I have used supper glue to put it back on. 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

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Posted by lionelsoni on Friday, April 1, 2016 8:19 AM

Supper glue...yum! ;-)

Bob Nelson

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, April 2, 2016 11:43 AM

I had a coupler come apart on a Atlas boxcar.  I puchased a Lionel truck and coupler replacement set at the local hobby shop, whipped out the electric drill to make 'em fit, and problem solved.

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Posted by JAMES TAYLOR on Sunday, April 3, 2016 9:10 AM

Thanks for the responses.  I think I will try J-B Weld.  Super glue never seems to hold long term. 

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Posted by cwburfle on Sunday, April 3, 2016 11:49 AM

I like to scratch up the sheet metal part(s) when glueing to metal. The idea is to give the glue something to "grab". I have used JB Weld for similar applications and its worked fine.

Also need to make certain the parts are free of any oil/grease or dirt.

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Posted by rtraincollector on Sunday, April 3, 2016 12:17 PM

What I actually use ( couldn't think of name a moment when I was posting ) was loctite haven't had a problem yet. 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

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