How to assemble Oriental E8/E9 trucks

Tom D. posted:

They did not come with instructions.  In general it is pretty straightforward, and it appears the journals are sprung and held in place by the brass journal cap and the plastic bearing part that snaps into the back.

The journals are wider than the opening in the truck and will require some sanding to fit.  Has anyone put these trucks together and if so did you sand just the truck side frames or did you sand the sides of the journal at all?

Thank you.

These look very much like OMI trucks in assembly.  You have it pretty much correct. The plastic journal inserts are actually bearings for the axles so they don't wear out the brass journal caps.  The 8 stainless steel straps hold the journal cap/bearing/springs in place and can be a little interesting due to the spring pressure trying to force the strap out of your hand. I would suggest you screw one end of this strap in place (loosely) and then when you have all the journal parts in place, rotate the strap around to hold the spring loaded journal assembly in place while you insert the 2nd screw. Not hard just could use three hands sometimes. As always watch out for shooting springs as you only have enough to complete the truck.

BH

Thank you for the reply.  I'm going to have to file the side frames some before I can assemble the trucks.  I was just surprised they didn't fit together better out of the package.  I think it will file easily, just have to proceed slowly.

I can see what you mean about needing a third hand or launching a spring too!

There's an old trick to handling springs, especially when there are no extras.  Take a piece of thread and insert it thru the spring before manipulating it into place.  Hang on to both ends of the thread and the spring can't go too far.

Greg,

WOW! I didn't remember the thread thing. Thank you.

Dick

Lets clear this up a bit. First these are not Oriental trucks, they never had any thing like this.

These are very nice trucks done by Ajin for and Overland models import. They are for E7's from the last run and will work for E6's as well in fact they should work for all brass diesels if replacing truck with new side frames. IMHO The seller did not know who what they were.

Bob

Weaver E8 three rail trucks