Question for Mark the Menard Guy and anyone who has worked on Menard's car trucks

I'd see if they'll send you a new truck.  For the ones Like I have, the trucks disassemble and you could just replace the single wheelset if you had one.

 

Hi Tim,

 

I passed along your message and you should hear back on Monday. Have a great weekend!

 

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

Mark,

Ran the car today, the Trucks are worse than I thought but did the job for half of a lap when the coupler gave out as well.

Thanks for what you do, I wouldn't mind having a job like yours

See my review of the Reading cars from Menards.  The couplers are normally pretty easy to fix, most of my issues where resolved by a simple adjustment.  Of course, I did have to take the coupler apart to get to the tab to bend it, but it was pretty easy.  A couple did have a more significant issue and I actually had to use some parts and do a bit of riveting.

 

Tim,

 

I just followed up with our customer service department and we will be sending you replacement wheels/axles. Keep me posted whether or not these do the trick. I hope to hear from you soon!

 

-Mark the Menard Train Guy

Hey Mark, I finally got around to working on my car and the axle is smaller. What do I do?

Thanks,

My newGB&W has a couple slightly bent axles but runs smoothly on the track with no issues.

Tim, that's obviously the wrong wheelset for those cars.   I think you need to get the proper wheelset with the straight axles, not the tapered ones.

Tim,

 

gunrunnerjohn is right. We must have sent the wrong axles to you. New ones will be shipping today. Sorry about that, Tim!

 

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

I am regularly impressed that Mark the train guy replies so promptly to individual queries such as the axle issue in this thread.

 

Personally, I've emailed Mark directly (his personal email is in his profile) and received very prompt replies.

 

I'd suggest others consider using his email address for those seeking specific solutions to problems; it probably makes it easier for him to respond than reading through a thread here on the forum.  Perhaps not.  But give it a try.

Thanks Mark!

I finally got my trucks yesterday and of course the coupler won't close at all, I have done what gunrunnerjohn did for his reading cars and nothing will work. Can someone help me please. Thanks.

What do you mean it won't close?  Does it move to the closed position and simply not latch, or won't it move to the closed position?

I could use 4 sets of trucks for the tank carrying flat cars I bought. I have a Lionel army train i was going to run them with but eesh! I am going to try the fixes suggested but initially just replacing the trucks seems like an easier, if more expensive, approach.

 

Frank

Not sure what Tim's issue is, but I can say that of the 8 NYC cars that I got I had one car with one coupler that would not latch closed.  Seemed to have full range of motion, & not just an issue when trying to couple w/another car.  Wouldn't latch at all, though did spring back open.  I didn't think I'd seen a solution in your thread, & have been meaning to get to Menards customer service for weeks but have been totally slammed at work this summer, so...yeah. 

It closes but it pops right open again when it is being pulled by a train and my finger

Did you see my Medards Reading Boxcar Review?  I had several couplers that wouldn't latch, the fix was not difficult.

John, I did your fix and it still did not help. Has to be something else in the coupler

Mark, go the new Flatcar, and it runs great (only going back and forth on a short section of track). Thanks again for helping me till I was completely satisfied with your service.

You're welcome, Tim! I'm glad we could help!

 

-Mark the Menards Train Guy