Hello All,
Kadee makes a TALGO (truck-mounted) conversion kit #212.
To make the conversion easier I recommend the #230 HO Talgo Truck Adaptor Insertion Pick.
I also recommend getting a #206 HO Insulated Multi-Purpose Coupler Height Gauge.
This helps ensure the correct coupler and trip pin heights.
It will pay for itself in reliability and ease of operation throughout your fleet.
Upgrading the truck frames could be more trouble than it's worth.
I recommend the MicroMark HO Truck Turner.
This tool resurfaces the conical bearing seats of plastic trucks for smooth rolling.
It also matches the angle of the bearing seats to modern metal wheelsets.
As far as wheels...
Some passenger cars used 28-inch wheels in three-axle trucks while some used 36-inch or larger.
I have standardized my HO rolling stock to InterMountain Brand metal wheels.
These come in a variety of scale sizes: 28-, 33-, 36- and 38-inch.
On the InterMountain website, under wheelsets and trucks, they list the actual measurements of the different scale wheel sizes.
It's difficult to determine the scale wheels size by eye so a digital caliper is the best way to assure you are using the correct wheels.
Using a different wheel size than the original can cause coupler height issues and in some cases rubbing or binding on the underframe of the cars.
Harbour Freight has an inexpensive digital caliper.
This unit not only measures in Metric but also SAE in both decimal and fractional- -very handy!
I also bought the plastic Utility Caliper for less precise measurements. At $1.49 it's a bargain addition to any workbench.
As with most DIY projects, investing in the proper tools can be more expensive than the parts.
Hope this helps.
Post Script: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" also comes to mind...Is there a reason you have to upgrade the couplers now? You can just cut off the trip pins on the X2Fs (Hook & Horn) to make them look like knuckle couplers. Definitely upgrade wheels, but consider leaving the couplers as-is and upgrading them at a later date. H.T.H.- -J.J.D.I.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Randy GMDconvert the trucks that already have new style couplers attached
Some time ago I posted a "how to" on converting a Tyco boxcar to new trucks and couplers, it might be some help
https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/194011.aspx#2118137
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
How long are the cars and what is the minimum radius curve you plan to run these on? I have a whole train of old Tyco aluminum passenger cars with Talgo trucks I've converted to Kadees and they run fine. The wheels are odd, with one plastic and one metal wheel on each axle to provide illumination for the interior of the car. These would probably not work with body-mounted couplers.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
You might be able to swap the wheels for some better ones from Intermountain or another manufacturer making high quality metal wheels. If you want to keep the couplers truck mounted, Kadee #28 couplers are made to fit the Talgo style mounts used on these and many others.
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I have some model power streamline passenger cars I just bought. Some still have the horn hooks and all have plastic wheels. Does anyone know if there is a product out there I could convert the trucks that already have new style couplers attached, and have metal wheels. If the product has plastic wheels I understand I could just switch those out with metal.