PC101Doctorwayne, you say you have both copys (early pre '60 and late post '60 would be my guess) of the instruction for this Athearn Steel Caboose with the screws coming down from the inside through the weight and in to the frame. Could you show it here for some to see the difference? Posting pictures is difficult for me with a photo hosting site. Thanks.
Yes, I have two instruction sheets from different times, and while they're both different, both, as I mentioned earlier, show the screws for the trucks being inserted from below, and the ones for holding the underframe in-place also inserted from below.
However the screws for the underframe are also meant to hold the weight to the floor and the floor to the frame. The holes in the weight, and those in the floors, meant for those screws, are clearance holes (they're not designed to hold a threaded screw, but merely allow it to pass through, unimpeded.
The drawing in the earlier instruction sheet shows both those screws and the ones for the trucks being inserted from the bottom - that's correct for the truck screws, but not for the ones intended to hold the weight in place. Inserted from the bottom, they will cut a thread in the holes in the underframe, but not even touch the holes in the floor, nor those in the weight. The drawing is incorrect.
To hold the weight in place, the screw is inserted, from above, into the clearance hole in the weight, and then through the clearance hole in the floor, and then, using a screwdriver, threaded into the smaller hole in the the centresill, thereby securing the weight to the floor, the floor and underframe together, and, in additionholding the underframe tight to the floor and the portion of it securing the couplers, also tight to the draughtgear boxes.
Here's the older instructions...
...and the newer one....
...and a photo of one of my cabooses disassembled, showing both through-the-floor-from-above screws located beside the clearance holes in the weight and in the floor...
The original instruction diagram was incorrect, and the newer one was also incorrect. I have not seen a correct version, so that may explain why some modellers were not overly impressed by the kits, with their weights flopping around inside the car, and the couplers either drooping or falling out.
Wayne
Thanks Doctorwayne. It just dawned on me, I've been doing it wrong by the instrustions since the early '70's. I've been putting the screws down through the weight and in to the frame.
PC101 Thanks Doctorwayne. It just dawned on me, I've been doing it wrong by the instrustions since the early '70's. I've been putting the screws down through the weight and in to the frame.
That's the way I do it after Gooing the weight on.. I then put the screws down through the top. I can paint the bottom of the caboose without worrying about the screw heads.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
PC101,
Thank you. I got it off last night. The push it UNDER the door part is what did it. I had been trying to push in and lift with my fingers, I was short of hands. I hadn't tried to slip it under the door.
Thank you all for your ideas and comments. Looks like the directions should be revised again.
Thank you,
Richard
Oops, it already posted.
cowman PC101, Thank you. I got it off last night. The push it UNDER the door part is what did it. I had been trying to push in and lift with my fingers, I was short of hands. I hadn't tried to slip it under the door. Thank you all for your ideas and comments. Looks like the directions should be revised again. Thank you, Richard