2360 GG-1 broken front axle

A broken axle, that's unusual.  Front truck, how do you know it's the front truck? Could be the rear truck. (just messin' with you ) I googled "lionel gg1 truck axle replacement" and got a few hits.  It looks like the truck sides are die cast and are inserted into the steel plate frame and then "wedged" (tech talk, I think) in place with a press.  There should be enough wiggle room to just pop the new axle in place using a screw driver, strategically placed for leverage.  I've done this many times on postwar freight car trucks and as long as you are gentle the axle can be replaced/inserted. Additionally, I would not remove the plate unless you absolutely had to. That would require loosening the wedged part which could result in weakening the die cast metal in that area.

Steve

thanks very much, I will try this later today.  I'd much rather do your idea than removing the side plate.  I agree getting it back on may be real trouble if removed.

o gauger

any chance you might post up a pic of the broken axle? that sounds like a cray break...not disputing what you have going on, but just would like to learn...any ideas what caused the failure? 

Don't know what caused this at all.  Ran great for me for years.  Will try and get a  pix up in time when I get a chance.  Maybe a weakness there in axle since date of manufacture or previous owner had this damage and never noticed it.  I bought it used about 40 years back but run it just once in awhile.  Never really looked at the axle very carefully since engine ran just fine.  I cannot get to repair today but will very soon.

o gauger

Just a thought, can you remove at least half the wheel set, slide a short piece of tubing over the broken axle, put it back in the truck & slide the tubing over the break with some epoxy to secure it? Spreading 40+ year old diecast side frames sounds risky, they are likely to be brittle, and prone to breakage.

Bill in FtL

Is this on the pilot truck or power truck???

Marty

pilot truck.  Here is a pix.  Broke as it just barely cleared the wheel.

o gauger

You  should have no problem removing the axle with a screw drive, just don't use any more force than necessary to remove the axle..    Remove the truck from the engine to make it easier to work on, unless you have a engine cradles.  Just about any post war freight car axle should work....

Marty

o gauger posted:

pilot truck.  Here is a pix.  Broke as it just barely cleared the wheel.

o gauger

that's insane.....it must have been bent and somebody before you attempted to straighten many many moons ago...it finally gave way after all this time....Marty is right, just pry barely enough to slip the new set in and you will be good.....hope it all goes well....do you have parts to fix it? If not, Ive got plenty..

Any updates with this repair???

Marty

Just finished this a few minutes ago. All went well, used old freight car axle, tight squeeze but it is in and the engine is running fine again.  Thanks for all the help.

o gauger

Glad to hear the good news,  never hear enough of that....

Marty

great! glad you got it fixed.....now run the heck out of it!

That's a new one on me.  I agree with HARMONYARDS about someone in the past bending the axle.  

It appears to have broken right where Lionel pressed the axle to make a wide spot to keep the wheel from being able to slide out of gauge.  Probably just a weak spot in the metal that fatigued over the last 50+ years of its life and luckily an easy fix.