Problem building hopper

[Anonymous]

I am a newbie, which may explain the question I am about to ask. My grandson and I are building an HO layout. We have installed the Con-Cor gravel ramp. We have also built 2 of the Con-Cor hoppers that are supposed to work with the gravel ramp to dump gravel below. We are having problems we expected with the dumping mechanism, but that is not my question. My question is as follows: When I install the trucks (with the provided pins, not screws), the hopper tilts to one side when resting on the track. One is worse than the other. I have checked to be sure there is nothing about the way we have built the kits. They sit fine if you rest the hopper on the trucks without the pin installed. When I install the pin however, they tilt, one worse than the other. Its like the hole in which the pin goes was drilled at an angle. I am thinking of replacing the trucks, filling the holes for the pin and using a screw as I have done successfully on a couple of box cars we have built. Did that for different reason, though, and am not sure that will help with this problem. I need ideas. Thanks in advance.

John
Austin, Texas

[ndbprr]

Well I think you are on the right track to solve the problem. I think I would remove the pins and set the car on the trucks to see if it still leans. If it doesn't something about the pins is causing the problem. Maybe a piece of plastic flash is on the pin doing it. If it leans without the pins it has to either one side is heavier than the other or the bearing surface between the truck and car is crooked. Look for flash or distortion there also. Are the car weights in ok? If it is ok without the pins in try putting them in not so tight when you reinstall them.

[cwclark]

you are on the right track...if i were you , i'd shave off the old truck mounting stud, replace it with some styrene tubing glued in it's place, and install the truck s with 2/56 screws tapped in in place of the pins...i'd also add some small weights inside the hopper to keep it from leaning...I had that problem with a set of SP 50' covered hoppers also from con-car (their trucks were so closely made to scale that they wouldn't hold the wheel flange inside the rail on curves or thru turnouts) and it kept leaning...I rebuilt the under carriage and also replaced the stock trucks with some old athearn trucks i had laying around..it solved the problem..Chuck

[Anonymous]

Thanks, guys. That gives me several things to try. I plan to start by being sure the problem is not being caused by how I installed the weights that come with the kit. Maybe I have them off to one side just a little. Anyway, I will keep working, with the hope my grandson will enjoy seeing that gravel actually dump out of the hopper, instead of just pretending (as we do when loading the gravel for transportation to the Ready Mix plant. Thanks again.

John
Austin, Texas