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Replacement Athearn Trucks

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  • Member since
    February 2018
  • 66 posts
Replacement Athearn Trucks
Posted by Eastrail11 on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 2:38 PM

Hello all

Firstly, I hope everyone is  doing well during these troubling times. 

I was wondering if Athearn ever made replacement trucks for their bombadier Bi-levels, the inboard-bearing trucks. I have had one break on me and after searching for a bit, I came up empty handed. 

If they produced the, where would I go to buy some? 

~Eastrail

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 2:55 PM

I cannot find one.

Maybe you will just need to buy a donor car.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, April 23, 2020 7:38 AM

I did some searching around, and nothing.  They are a different truck, that's for sure.

Here's a link to a review in https:/mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2002/12/athearn-ho-scale-bombardier-bi-level-commuter-passenger-cars">MR December 2002 that shows a picture of the truck.

Buying a "donor car" is way to pricey, buy a car that matches the cars you have, and use the car with the broken truck for parts, OR, try to fix the truck.

Mike.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Thursday, April 23, 2020 9:39 AM

Seems like a somewhat unique part. Until Athearn does a new run (and offers parts), you might want to look for two similar trucks that will fit.    

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • 66 posts
Posted by Eastrail11 on Thursday, April 23, 2020 5:02 PM
Okay, thanks everyone.

~Eastrail

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, April 23, 2020 8:21 PM

Walthers has their inside-bearing Amfleet trucks. You might get by trying these.

https://www.walthers.com/amfleet-inside-bearing-trucks-black-1-pair

A different, yet similar, design but at least they might get you up and rolling.

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    August 2022
  • 1 posts
Posted by goatghost on Friday, August 19, 2022 12:33 AM

I know this post is over two years old, but I thought I would post the reply I received from Athearn, regarding replacement trucks for their Bombardier HO passenger cars:

"Thank you for contacting Athearn Horizon Hobby.

Trucks for the RTR Bombardier commuter coach and cab car are unavailable from our vendor.
It is uncertain if these parts will be made available for purchase.
ATH61383 and ATH61382 [power trucks] are not compatible to the RTR Bombardier cars and specific to freight cars. 

Regards,
Athearn Horizon Hobby"

I ordered a set of the Walthers Amfleet inside-bearing trucks and I'm going to see if I can get those fitted to work (one of my original OEM trucks broke). The flange on the Athearn OEM trucks is so shallow that my Bombardier passenger cars frequently derail. I'm hoping that the flange on the Walthers ones is deeper.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,877 posts
Posted by maxman on Saturday, August 20, 2022 11:26 PM

goatghost
The flange on the Athearn OEM trucks is so shallow that my Bombardier passenger cars frequently derail. I'm hoping that the flange on the Walthers ones is deeper.

Assuming that both Athearn and Walthers have made their wheels to NMRA standards, the flanges on both should be about the same.

I think I would look at my track first before investing in new trucks.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, August 21, 2022 1:01 AM

goatghost
I ordered a set of the Walthers Amfleet inside-bearing trucks and I'm going to see if I can get those fitted to work

Welcome to the Model Railroader magazine discussion forums. We are very glad that you have found us. Your first few posts will be delayed by the Kalmbach Media moderators, but that ends soon enough, usually after just a few posts. Please stick around through the delay and become a permanent part of the discussions.

I don't know anything about passenger car modeling, but I wanted to say hi.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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