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I'd like to use some of my old o27 postwar cars on my new FasTrack layout. However, some of the couplers a broken. I am not the kind of person that can take apart a coupler and change one small piece of it.

I have seen that you can buy a combination assembly of wheels and coupler for about $10 ( actually, $20 or so for a package of two).  Are these easy to install? Is it as simple as popping out the old assembly and popping in the new? I'd rather salvage my old cars then buy new ones.  Any advice and or links are much appreciated. Thanks!

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Turning your car over will tell you at a glance how difficult the truck replacement project will be. If the trucks are secured by rivets then you will have to grind off or drill out the rivet from the top side of the car. If the trucks have permanent mounting posts they are secured by horseshoe clips from inside the car and are easy to remove. If your couplers just have broken knuckles or springs I honestly think you'll find replacing them to be an easier job than changing out the cars' trucks. 

Thank you everyone, and sorry for the delayed response.  I have attached a picture of the assembly from one of the cars, a Sunoco 6415 three dome tanker.  It looks like this is the situation Jerry described - horseshoe clips.  Is it as easy as bending the clip slightly to remove the truck, then reversing the process with a new truck?

mceclip0

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Yes - it is that simple - however, I don't see what is broken with the pictured coupler/truck. I have at times, busted the clip, so it would be good to have extras on hand (part number 480-18).

On other cars with rivets and such, you may find replacing the 480-25 base plate easier.

 

Additionally, springs and knuckles and much more can individually be replaced. Much information here on truck construction:

http://olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=694

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Last edited by bmoran4

Just a hint on removing the rivet from the plastic Lionel trucks that are riveted on:

I use a pair of smallish diagonal pliers to crimp the rivet on the the end inside the truck.  It takes several wacks at it to reduce the size small enough to get through the hole in the truck.  I have found drilling out the rivet gets the rivet too hot and it enlarges the hole in the truck.

Charlie

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