Truck Tuner

thetramp Apr 10, 2013

  1. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    That's the one. You use a Dremel to drill plastic, and you'll melt it.
    Lead, pot metal....better to use a pin vise.
    You'll find all this out as you go along.
     
  2. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Yep, Mantua...whatever happens to be present. Some are definitely more cooperative than others. Probably the most common I do are Tyco trucks, since I have a weakness for the Tyco Auto Loaders. Don't get me wrong, I prefer to replace the trucks with new ones - but my CFO (wife) frowns on excessive cash flow to the railroad. But even when I manage to salvage the old trucks, I still cut off the talgo couplers and put Kadees on the car body.
    My other method when I do switch to screw in trucks is to use a common 2-56 nut (not the tiny brass ones, but the ones available from Radio Shack or the specialty hardware drawer at Lowe's). They are slightly larger than a push-in truck bolster hole. I position the nut over the hole, insert the small tip of a soldering iron into the nut hole and carefully (very carefully) let the conducted heat melt the nut into the opening. The trick of course is to not go overboard and go too quickly - small incremental steps here - and of course keep the nut oriented level. once inserted into the bolster, I take a small file and remove any melted plastic that was forced up around the edges of the nut. Although the fit is secure, I then put a drop of CA adhesive at the edge to provide some extra security. What you have then is a good metal pre-threaded mounting point for your truck. I can't take credit (or blame) for this, I picked up from someone else - tried it and was happy with it.
     
  3. CNW 1518

    CNW 1518 TrainBoard Member

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    I have the Reboxx tuner.. 100% needed.. It's helped all of my cars remove unnecessary friction.
     
  4. fire5506

    fire5506 TrainBoard Member

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    I use the truck tuner on all my plastic side frame trucks. It makes a big difference on how the car rolls. I was dubious until I found one in a hobby shop and decided to try it, then I was sold on it. You don't put a lot of pressure on it, just enough to clean the hole and cut any flash out. The guys in my club use one also, they found that it improved the rolling characteristics of their cars also.
     
  5. thetramp

    thetramp TrainBoard Member

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    JNXT 7707, I am a visual guy so could you put up pictures of the finish work so we can see the results?
     
  6. thetramp

    thetramp TrainBoard Member

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    By the way, I have been looking for a truck tuner for a while now and every where I looked, they were out. After reading this post, I started looking again and found one on Evil Bay for $12.83 shipped. I thought that was a good price so I ordered it. It has not come in yet but I am looking forward to receiving it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 11, 2013
  7. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    So it was YOU who won that auction! Been out of town but threw a bid at a truck tuner before I left, not that I don't have one but since the word seems to be that the things are scarce I'm getting paranoid :wideeyes:

    Yeah 12.83 was a good price in my opinion, I use mine to death.

    And yes I will have to start posting visuals, I agree
     
  8. thetramp

    thetramp TrainBoard Member

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  9. thetramp

    thetramp TrainBoard Member

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    JNXT 7707, As of this morning, the are all sold. Hope you got one.
     
  10. fire5506

    fire5506 TrainBoard Member

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