I recently sought to purchase a NOS AF 6-48147 ASTF PA AA set. But all eight side-frames were loose in the box having fallen off the trucks of both engines. Assembly problem perhaps, or maybe a casting problem as well. Lionel does not have replacement parts available for sale. Has anyone else seen this issue on circa 2009 or later PA sets? Thanks for any info.
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I have the 6-47995 PA/PA Legacy set from the 2017 catalog. There have been no problems with the truck side frames but I suspect they may be a different design than on the 2009 conventional set. Here is a picture of the underside of a power truck for comparison. Each side frame is held on by two screws on either side of the center wheels.
Thanks Tom, that looks like an improved design.
Can you be more specific. Did they fall off as in break off or did the screws just come out.
@romiller49 posted:Can you be more specific. Did they fall off as in break off or did the screws just come out.
Rod, I posted a reply earlier today but I don't see it here, so apologies if this is a duplicate. I did not actually see the defect. As soon as the seller discovered the loose side-frames (all of them) he wisely chose to take it off sale. He is considering an epoxy repair. As described it is the 6-48147 ATSF blue freight AA set from 2009 NOS. The side-frames had separated from the geared trucks, not just loose screws. Tom's photo above of a Legacy PA shows the modern Legacy PA truck with a screw mounted very thin side-frame. I do not know how much this design is similar to the new trucks from 2009 and 2010 PA sets like the Santa Fe or Rio Grande. The Gilbert side-frames were thick and connected to their frames by a peened and spread "button" of cast material from the side-frame. I am asking for input from someone with one of the these 2009 or 2010 sets to weigh in on their design and/or possible defects. It is super odd to have all the side-frames loose in a new old stock, un-run set. Parts are not available from Lionel. Sorry I do not have the photos we would all like to have.
It has a vertical can motor but the side frames are similar to the original Flyer or early Lionel Flyer production. The side frames are held on by the peened button on each end of the side frame. They can be repaired with epoxy.
If they are the original Gilbert design, sheet metal frame with cast side frames, I have seen modern era side frames fall off due to zinc pest. Not sure what design the set in question has. The set I encountered for repair was Lionel LLC production which isn’t the first time I’ve seen modern AF equipment with zinc pest problems. Its actually quite common from what I’ve seen
This is all very helpful Ryan and Roger, guys! Thanks.
I had seen this post earlier but it got lost among other things, sometimes to munch happening. I own seven of the LLC sets with the PAs, all Double A-units and all with B-units, I checked all of them today, all side frames are tight. The sets that I have are all from before the Legacy PA sets, they range from the Southern Pacific set through the Santa Fe set.
Ray
Thank you.
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