Broken Athearn Side Frame Bolster. Help!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

BRAKIE

Please don't ask why I stated using a catch all.

Believe me, I know. I've had a few gears roll away to wherever lost gears hide. Even after my father and I gutted the inside of my old RV the gears I'd in there never came to light.

[wp8thsub]

hustle_muscle

I'm referring to the piece that's in the hole in the lower middle on the truck. That piece broke off of the side frame and now it won't stick back on to the truck. (Been thinking of getting new side frames since the ones on this model have brittle pieces that are breaking off)

That's a common problem with Athearn sideframes.  Rather than replace mine when the mounting pin breaks, I've taken to attaching the sideframe with clear acrylic/latex caulk on the alignment pins (the plastic projections on the truck that are just above and to either side of the mounting pin hole).  The caulk keeps the sideframe in place but it's still easily removed if need be.  I have a few sideframes so mounted that survive regular op session use, and they look no different than those retaining their original attachment.

[BRAKIE]

jeffrey-wimberly

Now carefully separate the truck halves so as not to drop any gears and it's done.

For safety I use a Athearn Kit box lid  or bottom in case the gears drop out of the gear case-they land in the same location..

Please don't ask why I stated using a catch all.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Disassembling the truck is easy once you've done it a time or two. Assuming you already have the truck out of the loco simply use a small flat blade screwdriver to gently pry up the bottom cover plate. You can't miss it. Just pull the screwdriver blade to the side. When you hear the pop do the same at the other end of the cover plate. Remove the plate and the wheel sets. Just lift them out. On the top of the truck near the rear is a small clip similar in appearance to the bottom cover plate. Remove it in the same way except lightly hold your thumb on it to prevent it flying off. I've had that happen. Now carefully separate the truck halves so as not to drop any gears and it's done. Now you easily push that broken pin out then reassemble the truck. It goes back together almost as fast as it came apart.

[BRAKIE]

charlie9

Looks like the proper size drill bit in a pin vise might be a good start.  Then use a self tapping screw or even run a small tap into the hole and pull it out.

charlie

 

Why use a pin vise when there's a superior tool?

 

A proper size drill bit in a Dremel is my style or I would disassemble the truck and use a small Phillips head screwdriver and just shove it out from the back side of the gear housing frame.

 

I have used both methods.

 

 

[zstripe]

Just drill that out and see if you can get new side frames,plastic does become brittle over time,especially the older made plastic.

Cheers,

Frank

[charlie9]

Looks like the proper size drill bit in a pin vise might be a good start.  Then use a self tapping screw or even run a small tap into the hole and pull it out.

charlie

[hustle_muscle]

I'm referring to the piece that's in the hole in the lower middle on the truck. That piece broke off of the side frame and now it won't stick back on to the truck. (Been thinking of getting new side frames since the ones on this model have brittle pieces that are breaking off)

[zstripe]

Hustle_Muscle,

Yeah as others have said,just your use of the wrong term,it's just side frame mounting pins,that can be drilled out, or pushed out,if you take the trucks apart,they are tapered plastic pins. A bolster is part of the metal frame,a pin shape,that goes into the center of the truck,so it swivels,very hard to break that.

Cheers,

Frank

[maxman]

hustle_muscle

one of the side frames fell off and the bolster that was originally on it is stuck in the hole where the trucks snap in at.

I'm not sure that your terminology is correct, but I could be wrong.  By "bolster", are you meaning one of the two plastic pins located on the side frame that insert into the side of the truck assembly?  If that's the case, it would seem to me that you should be able to drill it out.  If you actually mean something else, then that's another story.

[ChadLRyan]

Depending on the Truck Design, you should be able to disassemble the Truck, & then push the remaining part of the pin through the now accessable inside. However, I think newer ones have the Pin on the truck mating to a hole in the Chassis frame.
Regardless, you would have to replace the pin to affix the truck again.
So you may have to drill a pilot hole & find something to use as a pin to make the repair.
Please see if you can take a picture if I misunderstood the geometry of the problem.
Best of luck.

[crhostler61]

Sounds like the same problem I've had with several Athearn GP40-2's I've been working on. Metal frame trucks with plastic sideframe insert. That pin that broke/ breaks off doesn't interfere with the operation of the locomotive nor does it affect truck work, you can take apart the truck without popping off the sideframes. Short of replacing the truck frame with replacements from Athearn try a small amount of gel CA on the broken pin and set the sideframe back in place ( there are other alignment pins). Let the CA cure. 

The CA holds well for normal operation, but if you need to remove the sideframe for any reason, a small screwdriver behind the the center of the sideframe will break the glue dab. CA is actually very fragile to angular force. 

I've been doing it this way for some time. 

Mark H

[hustle_muscle]

I'm gonna need some help from anybody on here. On my Athearn RTR F7A, one of the side frames fell off and the bolster that was originally on it is stuck in the hole where the trucks snap in at. Is there any way to take the broken bolster pin out of the truck without having to buy a new pair of power trucks?