I’m rehabbing some cars that have the old plastic wheelsets on them. I want to replace these with metal wheelsets. The old plastic ones were generally inserted into a hole beneath the boxcar. I’m having trouble screwing on the new wheelsets and letting them be loose without having the back the screw out a turn or so. But then there is the risk that the screw will continue to come out because of vibration from running. So how to you attach a screw in this situation so its tight but still allows the wheelset free movement?
That’s normal, actually. The screws should be tight enough in the mounting holes that they won’t turn on their own, but they don’t have to be right up against the underside of the trucks. If they screws are loose, they may be too short, or perhaps you need to use a slightly thicker screw. You could try a small drop of tacky glue (not a hardening glue or cement) in the hole to add friction, but that’s more of an extreme measure.
Also, when adjusting that screw for both trucks, it is good practice to adjust one truck to turn freely with very little side wobble. The other truck should be allowed to be much looser. This will allow the rolling stock to track much better preventing derailments. If you have the screws too loose the car will wobble, just take up on the screw slightly. As mentioned, if the screw seems too loose in the threads add a dab of glue, Goo etc.
I found that if you take a file and file some of the bolster down the truck will work alot better. It also gives the screw a little more bite in the bolster hole, and as the previous post says to make one truck with very little wobble and the second with a touch more wobble they will track alot better, adding the NMRA standards weight will also help alot better. Jim.
A little dab of silicone on the screw before you put it in will keep it from coming out unless you want it to.
The wheelsets are the wheels and axles; sounds like you’re replacing the whole truck. You generally don’t need to replace the entire truck assembly to deal with plastic wheels, just replace the wheels with good quality parts from ExactRail, Intermountain, etc.
Thanks everyone for the great advice. I had not heard of the practice of leaving one truck looser than the other one. I suppose it doesn’t matter which this is. I will definitely just replace the wheels when I can instead of the whole truck as well. Thanks again.