Z Scale Bettendorf frustration

[up1950s]

Why in all things that are holy are the hole in Z scale trucks oval ? To enlarge the hole would weaken the truck and require a larger screw . If it is to mount a coupler , a notch in a round hole would maintain alignment , without allowing the truck lag behind the cars motion . Z is not a new scale and why are we forced to deal with this ? What do you'll do about this annoying condition ? Does anybody else make Bettendorf trucks ?

[Chris333]

AZL makes trucks that have a correct wheelbase. If I remember the Microtrains pin is blade shaped to fit that strange hole.

[nscaler711]

you could always buy the ones with couplers, and snip the couplers off, because those have round holes.
I looked before I commented, I have a PS2 2 Bay sitting on my desk as I type. 
Did I mention if you did that, you'd have spare coupler parts? No? well you will, and thats a good thing, because these are not as strong as their N scale counterparts.

[brill27mcb]

AZL makes trucks that have a correct wheelbase. If I remember the Microtrains pin is blade shaped to fit that strange hole.

Yes, that design would keep them from rotating too far.

Rich K.

[up1950s]

Thanks for the replies

I tried and with some acceptable success first rounding the bolster hole with a longer than wide diamond burr , That left me with a 3/32 hole . I then used that size Evergreen tube . Krazyed the longer than needed  tube flush with the top of of the bolster . I then ground it shorter . Then I counter sunk the the bottom end for a 00-90 flat head . I also bored the tube to fit the screw with some play . The problem with this method is a needed extra step to glue a washer to the 3/32 tube at the bottom because the glue will over time crack away from that engineering plastic , or whatever it is , and the truck can fall out .

So my second attempt was to search the world wide web for a 3/32 shouldered washer preferably one close enough to a 00-90 clear hole ID . Those hours are lost forever now . Then blind rivets crossed my mind . I had some on hand and it solves the above problem . Wills Wheels clear , no glue needed . I used aluminum because I thought the rivets wall thickness would be thicker than that of copper or brass and therefore fit the 00-90's without needing a sleeve to eat op the excess slop .  The pictures of the aluminum rivet method show early proof of functionality , but it is the method I will use from now on . Rivets are on order , and at 8 bucks for 100 lucky me .

[up1950s]

Ok I trimmed the head side to ,150 , same as the bolster body at the hole . I countersunk it . It is easy and fun to do compared to the 3/32 plastic tube method .

[Sokramiketes]

MTL Z trucks are undersized.  Go with the Bowser Buckler trucks.  I heard they were back in stock at Z Scale Monster. 

[up1950s]

MTL Z trucks are undersized.  Go with the Bowser Buckler trucks.  I heard they were back in stock at Z Scale Monster.

Thanks Mike I just ordered some .