So for christmas a couple years ago my grandma got me the lionel o gauge Eastern Freight Expansion pack, and I've been using it for a while, as it is a very nice set of semi scale cars. But the other day I was looking at the log dump car that it comes with when it slipped right out of my hands and fell on the stone floor that happens to be in my basement. When this happened, the knuckle on one of the couplers shattered and snapped right off, so I need a new one. I have looked on Ebay for replacement trucks and couplers, but haven't found any, so I need a new either coupler or truck for my car. Is there anyone willing to sell me coupler or truck for the car? I'm willing to pay up to 12 dollars plus shipping for a truck and 5.50 plus shipping for a coupler
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Bending the end of the rivet back is preferred.
Drilling on the metal would generate so much heat that the thermoplastic flat car would melt.
Andrew
I would suggest you call Jeff Kane, the Train Tender. I am sure google can find him. Have the car number when you call him. Make sure you understand falconservices comment. Drilling out rivets can do a lot of damage to plastic cars. When you talk to Jeff ask him about getting plastic darts that just snap in to replace the metal rivet. The part is a 9100 something I think. If you have to drill the rivet out, use a battery drill and do it with cold water running on the car.
Or simply do it in stages. Once the heat builds to warm, stop for a few minutes. I've done dozens that way without issue.
If you screw up, then pay for a whole new one.
....so you can try the method again on the larger bolster rivet
When you buy nickle/dime parts, get extra. If a commonly universal part like the rivets, get many. (Knuckles do vary some. Some swap, some wont.)
It's easy to foul up the setting of long/tall rivets and one knuckle may work better than the one next to it from th same batch. Test before you set the rivet and mod/file knuckle flash if needed.
As a note, I never set a few of my coupler rivets and they haven't budged let alone fallen out in over 7 year of running, and roll overs etc don't bother me much either. An advantage of running less than mint trains.
the knuckle is part 9050-56 $0.75, make sure you ask for the rivet also
www.ttender.com ( Jeff Kane )
A little super glue will hold the rivet in place. Be careful not to glue the moving part.