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Hi, I have been accumulating a few cars from lot sales on ebay and have got a few Bachmann cars. I purchased some micro trains couplers/trucks and have been swapping out the better looking cars (not all Bachmann) and I have to say I LOVE those trucks, they roll so freely and the couplers so far have worked great. I am using atlas code 80 and find that the trucks clear any switch tracks very well where others tend to "bump" across them. Question is this, I have run into a few Bachmann cars that the pivot pin on the car will not allow installation of the new trucks, it is too large. I got some adapters and things with the trucks but can't seem to find the right combination without making the car look like it is 10' off the ground. I know that everyone has their own opinion on rolling stock as to who makes a better piece but for now I have to run what I can get my hands on. I am still in the layout construction phase and just run trains to test sections of track and see how I like it. I am completely freelancing my layout. Down the road I plan on purchasing better stock and I am leaning towards microtrains. Are they one of the more realistic looking manufacturers? I see that they cost more but I also know that more expensive doesn't always mean better quality. Thanks for you guys input and taking the time to read this and help a newb.
I assume this is N scale? I'd trash the pins and replace them with small screws and washers. The pins themselves are too thick and that makes them stick too far out of the body, making the new trucks look bad. You may have to fill the current bolster hole so you can use a smaller screw. Just use a sprue from an old kit and whittle it down until it's the right size to fit in the hole. Glus it in and, when the glue is dry, use a sharp #11 blade to cut it off flush with the bolster. You can then either tap and drill a hole or just use small, self threading screw. This will work much better than the plastic pins.
I understand. The problem I am having though, is that the hole in the new trucks is too small to fit over the pin on the car. Am I adapting wrong? Or are some cars just not made to fit the trucks I purchased. I got the 1037 barber trucks medium length coupler.
What kind of cars, exactly? Micro Train conversion sheet lists everything from the #1000 to #1038 as fitting Bachmann freight cars, so I assume there is a wide variation in the size of the bolster, which what I assume you are calling the pin. I would contact Micro Trains to find out if you should have gotten a different conversion truck.
Hi Jim, thanks for all your input. After all that I have decided that I am going to limit all of my rolling stock to microtrains and possibly atlas. I am more concerned with the functionality than the details though I think microtrains cars are considered a top of the line for both categories?
The cars I was trying to put the couplers on were bachmann cars and they have a screw holding the current (I assume stock) trucks on them. I could not find any more numbers on the bottom of them. I have purchased a few mix match lots on ebay and have some decent cars, enough to get started anyway. I will use the cars that I cannot change trucks on for side tracks and yard cards.
Yes I believe I am trying to describe the bolster pin as you called it. Sorry, I am learning the terms as I go. I have not put more than a couple hundred dollars into rolling stock so far and have a decent amount of cars to get going. As I said I am going to focus on the better line of cars from here forward. Oh, and yes, N scale.
One of these days I will put a post on here asking a question that will have all of the pertinent details added.....
I would recommend using a bit of styrene glue into the current bolster hole on the bottom of the car, let it set over night, then drill out a new hole that is appropriately smaller.
Just an idea to get you rolling.
Well, the problem is not that the hole is too small but the hole on the truck itself is too small to fit over the pin on the car. I am thinking I have the wrong size trucks for these particular cars. Instead of spending this money on these old cars I think I am just going to invest in better rolling stock.
Hmm...Could you post a picture so that we can better see what you are talking about?
You really don't need the stock bolster, or pin. Cut it off, fill in the hole with plastic rod and glue, then cut and sand until it's flat. Center the new truck where it should go and then drill a new hole for the screw. Use some fiber washers to build up the bolster height between the car and the truck to where it looks right. The bolster just makes it easier to fit the truck. A screw with some washers will do the same job. In the future, buying Micro Trains and Atlas freight cars will give you better looking and running cars, but you might as well practice on the cars you have now.
Thats where I think I was heading with this...I was beginning to think the car had some random sticky-outey-bit and I was trying to figure out exactly what was going on here. But in essence, what Jim just posted was where I was going to get eventually. It is always good to have some N-scale Carman skills.
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