How do I install truck springs

 I'm assuming you mean the small springs in the side frame of the truck. I use a small flat blade screwdriver inserted between the coils or tweezers. I also try to do it inside a clear bag in case they go flying. You have a chance of finding them. You can also try inserting dental floss inside the spring. Then remove it after it's in place.

I just compress them with fine needle-nose pliers and walk them into the slot.  I have only lost a couple that way.

Here's how I do it:

• Get a length of waxed dental floss
• Thread it through the spring
• Compress the spring using tweezers
• Walk the spring in place
• Slowly pull out the dental floss and the spring should lock in.
• Repeat for the other springs.

When I disassemble trucks, when it comes time to pull the side frames, I put the truck into a plastic bag so when the springs go flying they're in the bag.

Hope this helps.

I use a piece of fish line similar to the dental floss idea.   I lay it through the spring in about the middle parallel to the coils (perpendicular to the spring direction).    Then I hold the line in my hand and the spring between thumb and forefinger.    I insert the bottom of the spring (thumb side) onto one of the nubbins on the truck and then push the other side in place with my finger nail.   It works about 75-80 % on first try.    the line keeps it from flying if it slips.    After install simply pull the line out gently.    I have lost no springs since I started using the line.

Thank you everyone for the great advice.  I ended up using tweezers to compress the spring and a large zip lock bag to contain slips.  My fingers just arn't suited for handling the spring without the tweezers.  BTW this was a repair on a new MTH box car that had a loose screw on the truck that wasn't seated all the way and was rubbing on the wheel.

I usually never have a problem getting the springs out, but getting them installed can be tricky.  I've used the dental floss method and it works great for installation, but in fits of laziness and not wanting to take the time to thread all the springs I have lost a few.  

Does anyone have a source for replacement springs?  I've looked on the MTH parts site but don't find them listed.  All the springs seem to be very similar in size between MTH, K-Line, and Atlas for trucks that I have disassembled.  Anyone know where I can buy blackened springs used in these trucks?

Thank you,

Mike

I've always wondered: do they serve any real purpose other than "looks"?  Would it matter, for instance, if they were not replaced when the side frame(s) was removed?

- walt

Bill Bish posted:

I'm clueless as to how to re-install these?

"Don't shoot your eye out kid."

I've done a lot of this on MTH trucks doing kadee conversions, because I always dismantle the trucks so that I can make a clean cut of the old coupler boss.

I use curved precision tweezers for both removal and installation of the springs. To remove, I just grab a coil of the spring near one end with the tweezers, push slightly toward the other end of the spring to compress it, and then remove it. Installation is basically the reverse. I grab the spring by one coil near one end, place the free end of the spring in the hole or boss on the truck, compress slightly, then position the other end of the spring with the tweezers, and release.

I've got the process down to about 5 minutes a truck for a complete disassembly and assembly. I don't use floss or anything to secure the springs, although that's certainly not a bad idea. I think in all the trucks I've done, I've only launched one or two springs. But, I do have some spares, and you can always use the kadee springs in a pinch (bit more realistic spring rate that way, actually...)

walt rapp posted:

I've always wondered: do they serve any real purpose other than "looks"?  Would it matter, for instance, if they were not replaced when the side frame(s) was removed?

- walt

Yes, on most trucks they do theoretically provide equalization for the truck, and they do need to be there to locate the side frames. In almost all cases, however, they are so stiff as to be effectively decorative.

Some passenger cars have springs and truck designs that are close to realistic, in terms of spring rate.

I just use a tooth pick. simple.

Twice a spring sprung across the room.  Thankfully I have no carpet and a 10 year old with eagle eyes.

This was an emergency repair I hope to never have to perform again!

Bill Bish posted:

Twice a spring sprung across the room.  Thankfully I have no carpet and a 10 year old with eagle eyes.

This was an emergency repair I hope to never have to perform again!

In the future, as previously mentioned above, thread some dental floss or light colored thread through the spring. Then it will not get away from you.

As a teenager, right before I put trains aside for more 1:1 scale endeavors, I assembled an HO scale, heavy-duty, 4-truck Athearn flatcar kit, with 4 sprung trucks to be assembled - 4 springs per truck. 

Maybe it was that kit that made me walk away from model railroading - naw, it was the driver's license and such stuff - but I actually got the thing finished. Pretty fair patience for a 16-year-old, really.

I still have the car. 4 sprung trucks. HO. I used the thread-through-the-springs safety method; thank you, Model Railroader. Madness.

So, in O-scale, piece of cake.

Yeah, sure.   

I think the Dental Floss thing is fantastic! Why didn’t I think of that?  I can’t tell you how many of those springs I tried to find (especially in Carpet). LOL

Fredstrains