I purchased a 6 car set, by Bachmann, of N&W passenger cars. I am replacing all of the couplers with Kadee couplers. I am all complete with one exception. There is a pin you pop out to remove the truck. I have lost the pin. I have looked everywhere for days but believe it has gone out with the trash. Does anyone have a spare pin I can purchase so I can replace the truck? Thanks for your help.
Jack Fletcher
If you have a good hobby shop nearby, you might want to ask the owner. The good ones have a stock of spare parts that they use to repair things.
Another option is to fix it by drilling a hole (were the pin is inserted), insert a tube in the hole, tap the tube for a 2-56 screw, and attach the truck on the car with 2-56 screw that is inserted into the tube. Doctor Wayne (who contributes regularly on this site), has a thread somewhere that shows you how with pics. Maybe he will chime in soon…
Simon
Hello all,
Have you tried contacting Bachmann?
They have a specific contact for parts.
Hope this helps.
Measure one of the other pin’s, prefferably with a pair of calipers. Make sure of it’s size…which is more than likely 2-56. No need to drill or tap a hole…use a self-tapping screw to secure the truck…fast, easy. They come in all sizes and material, brass, steel etc.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Edit: A machine screw will also work…those are the one’s with the fine thread. Accurail kit rolling stock used to come with pins…they now come with pins and machine screw’s…they were also 2-56.
Have you tried eBay?
This might be your best option.
Many of the Bachmann cars use a goofy lever system to make the draft-gear box pivot along with the truck. Any modification would make the draft gear flop around, even more than it does when new.
Bachmann_HW-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Good Luck, Ed
It would help to know the diameter of the portion of the pin which fits through the truck’s bolster and into the car’s floor, and also the diameter of the pin’s head, as on most trucks, the head fits into a recess in the truck’s bolster…
If you have calipers, measure both the diameter of the pin and the diameter of its head. Otherwise, take one of the pins to a hardware store and see if they have a screw of a similar length, and of a thread diameter equal to- or just a bit larger, than the portion which inserts into the car’s floor. The head of that screw should fit into the recess in the truck’s bolster, as in the photo above - it can be a bit smaller, but not so small that it will pass through the hole.
While a fine thread on the screw would be preferable, almost any type of thread will work, cutting its own threads into the hole in the car’s floor.
If you can provide the measurements mentioned, we could probably suggest the best solution, as this should be a very easy repair.
Wayne
I did call Bachmann and was told they carry very few parts for rolling stock, and the pin I need is not one of them. They mostly carry parts only for engines. Bummer!
Jack
Thanks Ed
I have been using Kadee #508 couplers for these passender cars and they seem to work fine. If only I had NOT lost the pin!
Jack
Thanks Wayne
I am going to try your screw trick. I have several containers of miscellaneous screw and perhaps I can find just the right thing.
Jack
Many years ago I had to do that. I glued a white styrene tube in place and drilled and tapped for a 2-56 screw. Been many years. I had the tube in my junk box. Don’t remember the size tube.
Rich
That’s usually my favorite trick but I’ve also chucked up a piece of plastic sprue in a drill to turn it down with a file or sandpaper. You could even make a new pin that way. Yeah I know it sounds third world, but I’m cheap. [8D]
If a find a screw that appears to be about the right fit, but the head is a little small, you may be able to add a washer and/or nut that would make it work. Many hobby shops carry small screws, washers, nuts etc. from Walthers and maybe other makers.
Walthers also use these pop in pins on some of their rolling stock. You might try them.
Rich, you know all those sprues from model kits? They’re a good source for filling bolster holes. I heat a piece with a lighter, then stretch it until it’s close to the size of the hole. I glue a short piece in the hole with CA, then drill and tap for a 2-56 screw.