Weaver Passenger Car Truck Replacement

C.W.:  I don't believe that the truck on the left is Weaver.  It looks more like a K-Line truck with that type of uncoupler linkage.   Looks like the Weaver truck might have a longer wheelbase, too.

Paul Fischer

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Were the new trucks in Weaver packaging?

No, they are just wrapped in tissue paper and bubble wrap. I do not know where my friend purchased the replacement trucks.

On the original trucks, the sideframes are staked to the bolster.

On the replacement trucks, the sideframes are screwed to the bolster.

The pictures really are not very good. The sideframes are definately different castings.

I guess it is obvious that I am not familar with Weaver or Kline product.

Thank you for the replies so far!

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C.W.:  I don't believe that the truck on the left is Weaver.

The truck on the left, with the raised bolster and mounting stud, is a truck that came off one of the cars. It has a coupling mechanism that looks like a knock-off of the postwar Lionel 2500 series freight cars, with a flat metal armature on a bottom plate that is suspended from the truck axles. A linkage leads from the armature to the coupler. This truck has no brake detail cast onto the truck sides. (I think the whole truck looks similar to a Lionel 2500 series truck)

The truck on the right, with the flat bolster, and no stud, is the new one. It has a plunger type uncoupling mechanism, similar to what was used on Lionel's plastic timken trucks (postwar) and on many Modern era pieces. The bolster is actually lower than the top edges of the truck sideframe castings. This truck has brake detail cast onto the sides of the truck.

The wheelbase and coupler length is about the same on both trucks.

Sounds like a job for machine screws and nuts.

The replacement truck looks like recent production Weaver. The coupler assembly is definitely Weaver. I think the passenger car set is old - at least ten or fifteen years. Note that the car has window silhouettes, which Weaver has not used for a long time. I have quite a few Weaver passenger cars and I've never seen trucks like the one that came off the NYC car. I'd say you either need to find some older Weaver trucks, or start adapting.  

Once again, thank you for the replies!

The set certainly could be 10 or 15 years old.

I was hoping for a drop in replacement, or a pre-made adaptor.

I am going to let my buddy know what I have found out so far, and let him decide whether he wants me to cob something together.

If so, I probably will be using machine screws with #10 fender washers to get the height needed.

What made your friend want to replace the trucks in the first place?

One tip on the new Weaver passenger trucks. They are notorious for the couplers opening up under load. I hear a lot of cursing, but in fact the solution is simple. The flat spring is riveted behind the thumbtack. Pull the spring and thumbtack assembly down and swing it out all the way to one side. Then bend the spring upwards to increase the tension, and put it back. Works every time. I once bought a couple of secondhand Weaver Hiawatha cars that some doofus had superglued the couplers shut. Took me a while, but I finally got them working. No need for superglue, just punch up the spring tension a bit. 

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What made your friend want to replace the trucks in the first place?

The cars are heavily used once a year around the Christmas season. While they are in very nice condition, the bearing surfaces for the rotating axles are so worn that the axles are coming out of their cast-in sockets.

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 They are notorious for the couplers opening up under load. 

Thank you for the heads-up. I will address the couplers as I replace the trucks.

I will be off to the hardware store for those fender washers, and if I can find them, some elastic #10 nuts.

That is, unless someone has a good suggestion on alternate ways to quickly fit the new trucks.

I checked with my buddy. He does not know how old the cars are. He said to do whatever it takes.