Hi Guys,
The other night I decided to have some fun and build a couple of boxcars I have had in my closet for several years. One was an Accurail car with a really neat New Haven paint job. When I went to install Kadee couplers, I noticed that the coupler cover was made of plastic like most but instead of supplying a removeable screw to hold it in place, like most manufacturers, Accurail’s cover has a plastic “pin” to hold it in place. Unfortunately, when one of the couplers didn’t work properly, I broke the plastic pin while trying to remove the cover, even though I was very careful.
I then discovered that the car wobbled terribly when run on my layout because the Accurail trucks are also held in place with a plastic “pin”, rather than a metal screw. One of the pins had pried loose and was causing the wobble. I was fortunate to have a small screw that was short enough to hold the truck in place and therefore replaced the plastic “pin”.
My intention here is not to just bash Accurail. Yes, it’s rediculous that they use plastic “pins” to hold coupler covers in place, especially because most manufacturers use screws which can be easily removed. And yes, it’s rediculous that the trucks are expected to stay tight against the bolster with only a press fit plastic pin. I guess Accurail is trying to save a few pennies on screws and they don’t care about our frustrations. Of course, when people like me get disgusted and stop buying their products, they can always complain that it was “China” that ruined their business and not their poor decisions.
Again, my intent here is to share with some of you other folks that the wobble in Accurail cars can be corrected by adding a small screw to just one of the trucks. So, once again, like we’ve seen in recent articles in Model Railroader magazine where we were told how to fix obvious problems in very expensive cabooses, for instance, we have to correct simple problems caused by stupid decisions and poor engineering.
I have 30 or 35 Accurail cars with the pins…When I first started building these cars I had the same problems you mention.Here is the solution that worked for me…I didn’t bother the coupler box because(in my case) I realized I had not pu***he pin in far enough.[:0][B)] For the trucks I used P2K wheel sets and used a self taping screw to hold the trucks on.
Eric is right. The older Accurail kits came with that beveled pin. On the few kits that I bought that were of the older variety, I’ve used 5/16" 2-56 screws to hold the trucks in place. (I pick them up at the Ace Hardware store near by.) Thankfully, the newer kits all come with 2-56 screws for the trucks. Most of the rolling stock that I have on my layout is Accurail.
Yup, they’re right. the newer Accurail have screws. Actually, the older Accurail I have wobbled because of plastic wheelsets, not the plastic pins. I’ve converted all of my Accurail (and I’ve got lots of them) to P2K wheelsets, and the wobble has disappeared completely, even on the ones with plastic pins that I haven’t replaced with screws. Good cars, those–
Tom[8D]
Nice pic, Thomas! Yep, I’ve read about those California laws. Are all those reefers for “medicinal use only”? That’s quite an impressive line of “misdemeanors” you got there, buddy? [:O]
Accurail heard the complaints and fixed the problem. As soon as I noticed the problem I fixed it by shaving the pin off of the cplr box and drilling out a no 2 clearance hole and tapping the pins original hole 2-56. Another tapping and screwing operation and the bolster problem was fixed. As for wobble, I never encountered it since I view plastic wheels with the same level of enthusiasm as a vampire views a crucifix.
one thing to note is the Kadee box has a slight angle bevel to encourage the magnetic uncoupling, the kit box may work fine, but the kadee box is designed for the coupler.
Absolutely! Another thing to remember-and this includes most major brands the coupler box that come with 95% of the cars was design for the X2F(horn hook)coupler…[:(] That is why KD couplers has that big hole at the end of the shank.BTW a X2F can fit a KD coupler box.
Teffy–if you ever get tired of that handsome little ATSF Mike of yours, give me a call, okay? Man, that’s one GORGEOUS loco you’ve got there, my friend!
Tom [:p][:p]
Yeah, Accurail switched to screws — @#$%^ PLASTIC screws that lose their heads under pressure. [V]
The best solution to the pins is still the one described above by jimrice4449. And if you get one of the newer cars with plastic screws, toss 'em out and replace them with Walthers Steel Self Tapping Screws, #2 x 1/4" Pan Head ($2.79 per doz). They fit perfectly. [^]
Plastic screws? When did they start using those? The last few Accurail cars I bought (last week; four 7-panel single sheathed boxcars) came with 2-56 blackened steel/zinc screws.
And as for which replacement screws to buy: don’t bother with the overpriced Walthers stuff. Head over to your local Ace Hardware and pick them up in bulk for $0.09 apiece (as opposed to $0.024 apiece from Walthers). If you don’t have an Ace around, go to McMaster-Carr or Fastenal (both online) and buy them even cheaper in boxes of 100 or 1000.
I ran into some with PLASTIC screws a while ago and some with the blackened metal screws you described. I sure hope the latter are the more recent version. I’m not sure of when the kits I have were actually produced and packaged by Accurail.
And the local Ace Hardware went out of business when the owner wanted to retire. I suspect a Home Depot and a Lowe’s within about a mile had something to do with his not being able to sell the franchise. Hadn’t thought to look in either of them for something as small as a 2-56 screw. Besides, the Walthers screws are another excuse to visit my LHS (even if they are overpriced). [:P]
I recently checked my local Lowe’s and Home Depot for 2-56 and smaller screws. I didn’t find anything in the aisles, so I asked an employee. He had no idea what I was talking about…
Yeah, at most hardware stores they’ll look at you like you just stepped off the flying saucer when you ask for 2-56 screws.[alien]
I’m fortunate in that there’s a little hole-in-the-wall machine shop in the town where I live where you can buy that small stuff in bulk, and they never bat an eye at you when you ask for it.
