Greetings,
I recently picked up a Stewart FT A-B unit. 3 of the 4 side frames (154,155 - See pg. 3 in link below) on the B-unit are loose and pull out of the gear case (24,23) with not much effort:
http://www.bowser-trains.com/docs/instructions/FT%20Instructions.pdf
I doesn't appear that the side frame are press fit into the gear case. Can I just apply some adhesive to the three pins that fit into each side of the gear case and push them back in place?
I don't believe liquid adhesive (e.g. Testor's) will work on this type of plastic. I'm pondering either epoxy...or silicone adhesive; the latter giving me the option of pulling them back apart at some later date, if need be.
I emailed Bowser but haven't heard back from them yet. I appreciate any input you might have on the topic - Thanks!
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have some older Stewart units, but the side-frame looks similar. With mine the side-frame pins are notched and and when part #26 is snapped onto the gear box it holds the side-frames in place.
Hope this helps, regards, Peter
Peter is correct that the bottom cover (#26 revised, my old sheet shows part #40) which has two pins on each side which engage small openings in the side frames.
Someone must have tried to remove the side frames without removing the bottom cover first.
Maybe some dabs of Walthers Goo might be a temporary fix? There is a paragraph in the instruction sheet under the heading Painting Truck Sideframes which describes truck disassembly.
Good Luck, Ed
UPDATE: I removed the retainer clip from the bottom of the rear gear case on the B-unit and discovered that the notched end on both side frames had sheered off so there was nothing for the retainer clip to grab onto. My guess is that I'll find the exact same thing with the front gear case, as well. And to top that off, two of the four side frames on the A-unit behave the same.
I just contacted Stewart Bowser via email to see if I could purchase those parts from them directly. Maybe they'll have sympathy on me and send me replacement trucks for both sets. I'll keep you posted...
tstageI just contacted Stewart via email to see if I could purchase those parts from them directly.
"I don't think so, Tim", I mean Tom. Stewart has been gone for some time, bought out by Bowser.
I used to have several (20?) Stewart ATSF F units and now have 2 ABBA sets. The problem you describe is not unusual, and of course brought on by mishandling the trucks - usually when lubing or such.
I was able to buy several replacement pieces for them from Stewart and later Bowser. You should be able to get them, and I'd keep some extras on hand.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
maxman tstage "I don't think so, Tim", I mean Tom. Stewart has been gone for some time, bought out by Bowser.
tstage
You are indeed correct, Al. Bowser IS who I contacted for the parts. And I'll have Mr. Binford mail you your bonus check for bringing that to my attention.
mobilman44 I was able to buy several replacement pieces for them from Stewart and later Bowser. You should be able to get them, and I'd keep some extras on hand.
That's a great idea, Bill. I'll keep that in mind if and when I hear back from Bowser.
http://www.bowserorders.com/.sc/ms/dd/ee/12672386/Bowser%20FTSideframe%20w%5E2FFriction%20Journals
Ed
tstageBowser IS who I contacted for the parts. And I'll have Mr. Binford mail you your bonus check for bringing that to my attention.
Actually I'll have to share the check with Wilson, as he is the one who told me:
gmpullman http://www.bowserorders.com/.sc/ms/dd/ee/12672386/Bowser%20FTSideframe%20w%5E2FFriction%20Journals Ed
Thanks, Ed. I knew Bowser had to have a parts site. Is there a link to it on their other site? If so, it wasn't obvious to me.
Also, are the side frames for the FTs the same for the F3/F7/F9s? I have both sitting out on my temporary work bench and I notice some slight variations - in particular, the journals.
tstage Is there a link to it on their other site? If so, it wasn't obvious to me.
Bowser makes better models than they do web design!
If you go to "ORDERS" tab, then click "Retail Orders-Click Here" it takes you to the other site.
http://www.bowser-trains.com/orders.html
It wasn't obvious to me, either. Just dumb luck.
I have always had good results when I needed parts through Lee English and the gang.
Oh, AFAIK, the FTs had oil-bath roller bearing journals as built. A sloped cover plate housed a lateral spring. The round HYATT sealed bearings came along with the later run F3s and/or E8s. Of course, it wasn't long before you would see them mixed, sometimes one truck with sealed roller bearings and the other with sloped cover and on some occasions, E units especially, only one axle would have been converted. All depends on how much time the shop had or if only one motor needed work, etc. If there was a speed recorder or wheel slip tach, that had a different cover again.
Regards, Ed
I was actually on that particular page earlier but didn't click the "Retail" link. Learn something new everyday. Thanks again, Ed!
Okay, parts - both needed and additional - ordered. Thanks, fellas...
Bowser emailed me back this morning and gave me the part numbers I needed to order. There was actually a side truck part # specifically for the F-units (vs. the FTs) that I didn't see listed when I was perusing the site last night. I responded back, gave them my order # and asked them if they could send the correct side trucks in place of the ones I ordered; given that they were the exact same price. I received an email confirmation a short while later noting me of the change.
UPDATE: Received my side frames and axle retainers in the mail today from Bowser. Replaced 6 of 8 side frames and two axle retainers. The trucks on my F3 A-B roll a whole lot nice now and the side frames don't fall off.
Another MR learning experience in the books.