Thanks all, your advice is very much appreciated. I am on the search for replacement trucks, and will use those instead. Perhaps the metal trucks will become a flatcar load.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
maxman Bundy74 It appears that the truck is 3 pieces: the center and the 2 side frames. Is this correct? How can I swap out the wheels without destroying the trucks? All the above is good advice, but doesn't answer his question.
Bundy74 It appears that the truck is 3 pieces: the center and the 2 side frames. Is this correct? How can I swap out the wheels without destroying the trucks?
All the above is good advice, but doesn't answer his question.
The old Athearn metal passenger trucks do not readily come apart and then go back together - you are much better off to just replace them with the newer plastic version - which Athearn did/does sell as a replacement part complete with nice metal wheels - and they fit the old cars the same since the car has never changed.
The Intermountain wheels are no the right axle length for the new Athearn plastic trucks anyway.
Any metal Athearn passenger trucks you have are now at least 40 years old, they switched to the plastic ones in the late 70's if I recall.
Sheldon
Bundy74It appears that the truck is 3 pieces: the center and the 2 side frames. Is this correct? How can I swap out the wheels without destroying the trucks?
If you choose to keep the metal trucks, just be sure that no part of them can touch your trackwork. I was helping out at a layout open house this past weekend and one of the owner's beautiful old wood freight car kits had metal trucks that were somehow touching the tracks while traveling through a particular pair of turnouts. This contact repeatedly caused the DCC breakers to trip, shutting down other trains, and also forcing the layout owner to excuse himself from host duties while he tried to figure out what was wrong. It was only when I was running the train with this car later in the day that the cause was discovered. The problem car finally derailed in the problem track section and I had a terrible time trying to re-rail the car without repeatedly shorting the DCC system. All this was occurring on some of the best layed trackwork I've ever seen! Thus, if you want to keep the metal trucks, make sure that you double and triple check the truck-to-track clearance on this car all the way around your layout.
Hornblower
My advice would be not to scrap the trucks but to use them as they are because Athern trucks, while rather basic in design, roll and track very well. I have several trainsets of Athern passenger cars and I've seen Athern trucks take all kinds of track conditions in stride.
I suggest replacing the trucks entirely. There should be several suitable trucks available at reasonable prices.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Hi All,
I am in the process of kitbashing an Athearn pullman into a tool car for my MOW service. The car is one of the older ones, and the 6 wheel trucks are a metal, almost like a bronze. I'd like to use intermountain 36" metal wheels on them, but unlike the plastic 6 wheel trucks, the sides don't spread to facilitate wheel removal.
It appears that the truck is 3 pieces: the center and the 2 side frames. Is this correct? How can I swap out the wheels without destroying the trucks? I'd like to use them as they add substantial weight to the car.
Thanks in advance for any help.