How T o Change MTH 3 Rail trucks To 2 rail Trucks?

Good afternoon Al.....Well it is true that only one screw holds on each truck. However getting to that one screw is the fun part. Believe it or not, there is usually 4 screws from underneath, most likely hidden by the trucks you want to take off. What car are you working on?

Clem

Clem,

Thank you. I'm working on the Premier Hi cube paper boxcars. So far it looks like I've gotten to loosen the floor screws & take the floor off?

Al

Al did you find the screw locations ? sometimes really tricky. I just did a Railking caboose that as Kadee pads, the screws where under the trucks and could only get to them by putting the driver between the wheel and the brake shoe, just enough room to get the driver in there but not the screw. MTH bodies are  really overbuilt on a long car there might be more than four screws. And the roof might come off with the car ends be careful where you pry.

Clem

Al, maybe the following website will give you some insight on these cars.  There was also a thread on OGR sometime ago that discussed the same topic.  I'll see if I can find it.

MTH 50' Hi-cube cars

Here ya go....

OGR MTH Hi Cube 2-railing post

Wonder why they didn't make it simple like 1 screw for each truck as Atlas does.

Thank you,Clem.

Al Hummel

Al i'm not sure, but here is my guess. When screw down from the top there is no pressure on the screw except when lifting the car. When on the track the large hole in the floor and the boss on the trucks take all the wear and the screw is tightened all the way down there is still no binding. Very strong way of doing this.  MTH started out as a toy train co. Probably never thought of people converting to 2-rail.  Basically the same truck they had from day one like Lionel. Where as Atlas and Weaver where scale manufactures. 2-rail people always changing there trucks and wheels.