Arnold N-Scale Trucks

[DeltaBravo]

I picked up an old Arnold twin bay hopper at Timonium last weekend and I want to swap put the trucks and couplers. But I'm not able to just pull off the trucks. Does anyone have nay advise for getting the trucks off the car off?   I am assuming I should tap threads for a screw to hold on new trucks?   

[nickelplate759]

I haven't tried it, but I would cut off the old truck (yes, that will destroy them), grind the metal truck retainer down flat to the bolster, then drill and tap an appropriate hole for a screw to retain the new truck.

George

[Philip H]

If you are going to tap threads for a new screw to hold on replacement trucks, just cut the kingpin off at the bolster with a razor saw.

[DeltaBravo]

If you are going to tap threads for a new screw to hold on replacement trucks, just cut the kingpin off at the bolster with a razor saw.

There is no kingpin, that is what was so confusing I have not come across a mounting like this before.

[Philip H]

There is no kingpin, that is what was so confusing I have not come across a mounting like this before.

Fair point - I was referring to the shaft that sticks down into the bolster hole.

[peteski]

Wow!  It's been years since the last time I worked on one of those and I don't remember how the truck is mounted.  Could it be snapped into the underframe (where the kingpin is part of the truck and it has snaps like the old Con-Cor kingpins, so it should simply pull out of the underframe?  Can you take the car apart to see the top side of the underframe?

[nkalanaga]

They're actually riveted on.  Took me forever to figure that out 40+ years ago.  The hollow post is spread to retain the truck, and the only practical ways to get the truck off is to grind the spread portion, cut the post off, or break the truck.  On mine, there was no body bolster, the truck bolster being tall enough to do double duty.

That looks like their operating hopper, which I believe was also sold without the operating parts, and which I rebuilt way back when to a covered hopper.  On mine, I cut the trucks off, filed the outside of the post round, drilled the inside 5/64ths, and used a standard KD truck and pin.  I don't remember whether the post was the right height, or had to be filed shorter, but mine is 3/32 high, putting the floor at the right height for a 1025 coupler.

You could also cut the entire post off and build a new body bolster.  Mine has a cosmetic one, two pieces of basswood, with the post in the middle.  It was done before Evergreen styrene was available.

Their TOFC/COFC car had the same design, but I cut the entire post off that one, and built a new bolster.

[peteski]

Come to think of it the car I was thinking off is the old Arnold single-dome tank car. That one had the snap-in trucks.

[JMaurer1]

Arnold single dome tank cars were hard to replace the trucks as well. These trucks are put on a plastic tab and the tab melted and spread to keep them from falling back off. Cut off and start with something that works.

[DeltaBravo]

I am starting to think this might not be worth my time. I may just cut off the coupler, replace the wheels and do a body mounted couple since the bottom in metal anyway.

[Spikre]

 
  another option,find a drill that is the same size as the riveted post,
  then drill out the flared part of the rivet.
   looks similar to the covered hopper that is here,but never changed the
  trucks,just put in a Uni-Mate coupler.
   there is more than one way to rework these classics.
     Spikre
       

[Frisco Larry]

This I what I did.  First, there is a replacement bolster included with the 2 and 3 axle pass. trucks which resembles a three layer tiered cake.  Cut of the top (the smallest part) layer.  After removing the Arnold truck, squeeze the metal tube ( or rivet) until it is mostly restored to its original unspread shape.  Then slide the modified bolster onto the tube (this provides a seat for the MTL replacement truck, until it is against the car floor. Then slide on the truck.  Then insert some object (like a nail, etc) into the metal tube and gently spread the tube just enough to retain the new truck.

[dckuk]

This is hilarious; I picked up a large lot of N scale recently from a collection going back to the 1970s. In the box was an Arnold Rapido tank car, covered hopper, and wood reefer.

I rebuilt the reefer with some bolster castings and MT trucks, as it had a plastic floor and the the trucks were held in bplace kind of the opposite to old Lima and Roco Con Cor passenger cars. Pulled off easily, and a simple slice with the knife.

I considered the hopper for about thirty seconds, and decided it was destined to be a static display after practicing weathering on it. I didn't think I could get the look right between the hatches and metal frame.

Good luck on the project, if you decide to pursue it!

[nkalanaga]

I used to have one of those reefers, painted for Yakima Valley Apples.  No idea where it ended up, and haven't seen it in many years.