Aristo truck springs, help!

[spikejones52002]

Aristo heavy weight passenger car are even worse. The orginal springs are totally compressed. I purchased several packages of suppose to be heaver Aristo springs. Not much better.

Their passenger turck do not sit square or level. Check out all of their advertisement photos.

The back of the truck is higher that the front.

That trick of threading thread or floss ( which I prefer) through springs saved what little hair I have.

I did one a bit better. I cut about a foot of floss. I threaded it through a small fishing sinker and tied in a loop. When I start to work on a spring. I always wrap around the spring and then loop the sinker.

Removing a spring. It is easer to catch a loop and pull it back than a single thread. That always seams to slip away as I pull it.

Then when it rockets away it does not go far.

I figure this out after I threaded a spring on just a straight thread. When the spring blasted out. It shot off the end and was gone.

[g. gage]

Thanks to all for the help. I'm sold on steel wheels and change to them before running any car on my railroad. I've always gingerly spread the truck frame apart and pulled out the original wheels and installed the new. I don't know what happen this time; except it was my thirteenth Aristo car?

Thanks again, have fun, Rob 

[JRB 1953]

SOMEONES THINKING!!  THE IDEA OF PUTTING A PIECE OF STRING OR FLOSS THROUGH THE SPRING SURE DOES MAKE SENSE.  I'LL BE SURE TO DO THAT NEXT TIME.

JOHN

[pimanjc]

I use a method similiar to Capt.Bob's.  However, I use the flat edge of an Xacto blade to hold the spring.

JimC.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I just skewer the spring near one end on a little screwdriver, get one end set, then compress with the driver while placing the other end.   Rarely will I have them jump away on me.   Springs out of unused Aristo hook & loop couplers work as suitable replacement springs.

[altterrain]

 I also heard that dental floss is good too. I found that you don't need to take the trucks apart to swap out wheels in most cases. A little gentle bending and twisting will do the job.

 -Brian
 

[g. gage]

Thanks a lot John and Danny. If anyone asks how many men it takes to install springs in an Aristo truck I can honestly say three.

Thanks again, Rob

[DannyS]

 If you put a cotton thead thru the spring, if it shoots off, you will not lose it, once in place it is simple to pull the thread out, job done.

[JRB 1953]

HI ROB,

I'VE HAD THE SAME TROUBLE AND FOUND OUT AFTER MUCH FUSTRATION, JUST TO LEAVE FOR A WHILE TO LET MYSELF COOL DOWN.  I USED A LONG NOSED PLYERS AND AFTER GETTING ONE END ON I SORT OF USED A VERY SMALL SCREW DRIVER TO SET THE OTHER END.  USING THE PLYERS ALLOWS ONE TO COMPRESS THE SPRING A LITTLE.  I LAYED A VERY LARGE TOWEL ON A TABLE FOR AFTER MULITPLE TIMES HAVING THE SPRING LAUNCH INTO THE AIR, IT WAS EASIER TO FIND.  HOPE SOMETHING WORKS FOR YOU.

JOHN

[g. gage]

Help! Anyone have a secret for installing springs in Aristo trucks. While upgrading Aristo trucks with steel wheels the truck exploded into parts. After figuring out how the parts go together I can't get the springs in place. I've tried several ways with no luck.

Thank, Rob