Replacing trucks and couplers on the Tyco ATSF 7240 caboose

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


rglaicp

New Member
The truck/coupler assembly on this car (from the late '60s snaps into the underframe with the trucks riveted to the metal spring. The couplers are in a pinned metal enclosure. I'd like to update to Kadee trucks and couplers. Any thoughts will be welcome.
 
The truck/coupler assembly on this car (from the late '60s snaps into the underframe with the trucks riveted to the metal spring. The couplers are in a pinned metal enclosure. I'd like to update to Kadee trucks and couplers. Any thoughts will be welcome.
Can you post a foto or two of the coupler?
 
Without a photo, it's hard to tell you exactly what to do. It should be possible with a little surgery. Generally, the coupler boxes are trimmed off the trucks and new Kadee boxes, springs and couplers can be body mounted, possibly needing shims. I generally leave the truck as is and just replace the wheelsets with Kadee metal wheelsets. I always use a truck tuner before inserting the new wheels.
 


Here's what they look like. The rectangular clip in the top photo snaps into the underbody and the whole assembly
IMG_0103.jpg
IMG_0104.jpg
is riveted to the truck frame. I can't believe that they used all this metal on a $3.00 car.
 
The metal clip will lift off, you can use either a Kadee #5 with the copper spring or a Kadee #148 whisker coupler as a direct replacement, then replace the metal clip.
 
Here's what they look like.
I think you will have to press or drill out the pin on the coupler box. Then use a #51 drill to make a hole the right size for a 2-56 tap. If the metal is too thin to take a tap, then use a 2-56 nut. Then either replace the metal cover with the coupler lid from a Kadee #5 set, or if you want to use the original metal cover, then use a spacer from a Kadee #213 coupler box set so the #5 coupler won't wobble on the 2-56 screw.

https://www.kadee.com/shop-by-categ...lers/213-ho-scale-20-series-gearboxes-sleeves
 




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top