Precision scale brass tender trucks

[timwatson]

Has anyone ever put together precision scale brass tender trucks? I bought a pair for an Hon3 tender and I feel like I am missing something?
I filed them down and the cross bar seems not long enough to get the wheels in the sideframes. I'm looking for anyone with experience with these.

What am I missing? Should I email or message them? I didn't expect these to be a project before my project.

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[jargonlet]

Most of the HO brass trucks I have have a screw on the bottom on each side. I have had a few that have the side frames soldered on.

[timwatson]

Yeh that would make sense (but these don't have any screws). These look to be tab and slot (for lack of a better term) construction?
I should have taken a picture from underneath. They're here. Thx for taking a look jargonlet.

I am thinking I could model and 3d print some in the time it would take to fix these.

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[Chris333]

The bolster is supposed to pivot around the sideframe pin so they flex over rough track.

[timwatson]

The bolster is supposed to pivot around the sideframe pin so they flex over rough track.

So how is the bolster supposed to attach to the pin? Doesn't it just slide down over it? These are in there very tight so there will be no flexing. So I've got to have something wrong. Pretend I am a fifth grader @Chris333 !! 

[timwatson]

The bolster is supposed to pivot around the sideframe pin so they flex over rough track.

Re-reading this I have the bolster upside down then I think is what you're saying.

[Chris333]

The 2 fingers on each side of the bolster should wrap around the sideframe pin, but be loose so it pivots.

[timwatson]

This is the flipped bolster (I unsoldered the other one).
It's like the bolster is the runt of the litter. Just too small.


Or am I expected to ream out the wheel muffs?? Seems weird but maybe?


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[Chris333]

Not sure. Man brass parts can really suck. For HOn30 tender trucks I use N diesel trucks with the gears removed and new sideframes glued on.

[Chris333]

First I have never messed with HOn3 trucks, but this is a brass HOn30 Forney rear truck.



Hopefully you can see how the truck pivots very flexible.

[Chris333]

Looking at your second post. Yeah I don't think those are even drilled out.

[timwatson]

Looking at your second post. Yeah I don't think those are even drilled out.

Yeh I went ahead and emailed them to see what they say. Yours look like the wheels fits just fine. I guess I can 3d print a new bolster and then drill out the side frames. What a ripoff.
Thanks for the help all.

[sd45elect2000]

I built a bunch for HO trolley cars. I'm glad they got rid of the screws !

 I bent my bolster slots around the sideframe pins. I had to drill out the journal boxes to accept the axles, pilot holes are provided.

RSS

[timwatson]

I built a bunch for HO trolley cars. I'm glad they got rid of the screws !

 I bent my bolster slots around the sideframe pins. I had to drill out the journal boxes to accept the axles, pilot holes are provided.

RSS

Ok sounds like they expect you to work on these before you put them together then. How did you drill out the journal RSS? Thats a big angle on the axle.

[woodone]

Looks to me you need to fit the bolster to the side frames first so they can turn free.
The next trick is to insert both wheel sets into both side frames and the slide them into the bolster.
Looks like there are small ears on the bolster where pin fits, you bend the ears together to hold the bolster to the side frames.
Might be a three handed job to get five parts together.  Make sure you have both axles so the insulated wheels are on the same side or you will have a short.