Anyone have any good ideas on how to fix Weaver ACF Centerflow Stirrup steps that are very fragile- esp the older 1980's kits?
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I have used Syrene "Evergreen Strips" to make my own replacement ones. Then I paint them as close to the car color as I can get.
Hope this helps,
Jeff James
Tichy makes replacement steps. I use 1/16 x 1/64 brass flat bar, very durable. Malcolm
If you still have the original stirrup and enough patience, drill holes for wire pins then reattach it with glue. If the original is lost, fashion a new one from phosphor bronze or brass wire and paint to match.
If those excuse-for-couplers whack the stirrups, consider installing pins in the car floor to limit their swing...or just remove the remaining stirrups. 
Matt
Several years ago, one of our members Pitogo asked the same question about replacing the extremely fragile btm. steps on the Atlas 36' reefers. After some thought I machined a bending form and made him a bunch of steps out of .050 steel piano wire. The difference between the Atlas reefers and your hopper car is that The Atlas has holes in the body for mounting the steps. I will say that you wouldn't break my steps.
I vote for metal replacements. I've seen staples bent with pliers that make nice facsimiles.
Fred
Staple gun staples with the pointed tips cut off.
Yes....staples and ACC seem to work....Tom
Originally Posted by beertrain:
.....made him a bunch of steps out of .050 steel piano wire. The difference between the Atlas reefers and your hopper car is that The Atlas has holes in the body for mounting the steps. I will say that you wouldn't break my steps.
Nice. Those will outlast the car.
And, being able to mount them into the car is important to the strength and quality of the mounting - surface mounting steps is generally a good way to be spending time re-mounting steps.
Yes, have severalof these hoppers that need new stirups. I recieved a few cars from Ebay that were wrapped in bubble wrap that casused the stirups to be broken. But for $10 i didn't fight it. Heck postage mailing the 3 packs around the country is costly. Is there a number for the drill bit to do the skinny job.
Phil, you'd have to measure the diameter of the metal step material you're using then buy a drill bit that's only a thousandth or two bigger than the wire. You want to avoid lots of slop between the metal and it's mounting hole. FYI, a machinist's drill index has fractional 1/16" to 1/2"drills,---letter drills and numbered drills from about.040 to a bit less than 1/4"
I seem to remember Detail Associates made replacement steps, P&D or Des Plaines might have them.
Colin
