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farace
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 Posted - January 26 2010 : 12:20:01 PM
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I have an AHM "STATE OF MAINE PRODUCTS" boxcar missing its trucks, and I'm not familiar with what type of trucks I should be looking for. They're not the snap-in trucks like all the Life-Llike cars I've got, and they're not the screw-in type like Athearn--the mounting holes are smaller than the Life-Like's and there's no screw hole going through. In fact there's a plastic plug on the other side of the hole inside the car, apparently holding the metal weight in place. What am I looking for to get this car rolling? Thanks!
--Bob
Edit: I should have said this car is made in Taiwan; I realize AHM had several sources.
Edited by - farace on January 26 2010 12:20:54 PM
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Posted - January 26 2010 : 12:23:03 PM
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hi forace sounds like you have the ahm/rivarossi plug type,ken
Edited by - catfordken on January 26 2010 12:56:23 PM
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farace
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Posted - January 26 2010 : 3:03:33 PM
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Thanks. So I'm guessing that the plug I see on the inside, seemingly holding the metal plate in place, is the top of the truck pin, and the prongs are broken off? I'm wondering if maybe it would be easier to just drill and tap what's left of the plug for a 2-56 screw and install some other trucks, like Kadees, that I can find at the LHS rather than mail ordering actual AHS trucks. Shipping ends up doubling the price of most everything these days.
--Bob
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Posted - January 26 2010 : 4:00:48 PM
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The AHM bolster kingpin is kind of a trademark feature, but not all AHM cars used them. In addition, certain cars made by Kader and sold by Life-Like, Lionel, and Bachmann used the same trucks and kingpins. Finally, in the AHM world there are other cars that use even a *different* style of kingpin! And none of these are the split-lug Tyco-style pins that Tyco (rarely) used, shown in Ken's first pic above... and no, those won't work either.
All of this, understandably, can get quite aggravating at times.
The best solution I have found (provided you haven't yet learned which particular cars have matching / interchangeable trucks, which would take far too long to explain and detail here), is to use screws. I don't have sizes handy, but I do know that 2-56 are too small. You almost want a small generic wood or self-tapping hardware screw. I have a cheap assortment of "household" screws of various size and purpose, and 90% of the time I can find one that will secure those trucks. Of course the shorter the better, so you don't have to worry about going through the entire chassis (or drilling through a metal weight). For this reason, salvage screws from junk electronics (casings) and such can often be a good source for the right sizes.
Beats pulling out your hair searching to cannibalize another kingpin from another car... only to have it end up lost again at some point in the future....!
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farace
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Posted - January 26 2010 : 4:58:32 PM
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Thanks Tony. I'll come up with something. Re: the 2-56 screws, I know they work for Kadee trucks, as I just put a pair on another headache project, but I guess they don't work for others (I've got a bunch of their black plastic screws that come with some of their couplers). I guess the solution will depend on what trucks I scrounge up.
<rant>(Headache: Funaro & Camerlengo write their instructions for people that don't need instructions. The rest of us are left with their cryptic utterings. I'm not stupid, I rebuilt the engine in my Alfa Romeo without anyone looking over my shoulder, and can repair certain cameras, and that sort of detailed work, but I'll be damned if I can understand F&C's incomprehensible instructions for building a simple box car.)</rant>
--Bob
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farace
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Posted - January 26 2010 : 8:14:39 PM
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Now I see what you're talking about; I just ordered some trucks on eBay (four sets for $2.75 plus $3.50 s/h; I couldn't resist) and the mounting holes are easily seen to be much larger than those on Kadee or Athearn trucks. Might have to use a sheetrock screw. :)
--Bob
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