It's Sad How a 2 cent part can put a Locomotive on the RIP track

Make one : )

Buy one, it'll drive you nuts trying to make it work with a cobbled up solution.

Put in the right part and do it one time.  Lionel has the part.

I agree with John.

Normally I'd make a simple quick silicone mold of a part like this...or fabricate it of styrene/ABS...and make a few resin parts.

However....

These are axle bearings.  They're undoubtedly molded of an acetal resin....the 'slippery' plastic.  As such a styrene or resin part isn't going to hold up much beyond the shelf-queen application....even with exotic, regular added lubrication.

It is, indeed, maddening that these parts are not more readily available from the manufacturer.  As much as they were designed for ease of assembly, they seem to have acquired a similar ease of 'disassembly'!!!  I have a couple Lionel items from collections that sit on the 'lame line' awaiting the miracle of availability.

We can only hope....or organize a mass protest????  (It seems to be 'the American Way' of late.)

KD

I can make a ABS plastic one for you with my 3-D printer. Can make some extras also. Don

scale rail posted:

I can make a ABS plastic one for you with my 3-D printer. Can make some extras also. Don

Don, is that the kind of device which could make 1/43 scale diesel fueling station nozzles? 

Don, I do not think ABS will cut it.  The Delrin type material is what is going to work.  Another situation can be used to get the job done.  CALL LIONEL, THEY HAVE THESE AVAILABLE.  Lionel is very good about selling parts.  I would suggest to buy several as they are small change.  I buy any bearings 8-10 at a time.  I keep many in stock and use them.

Hey Kerrigan, can you show me a picture the nozzles. Don

scale rail posted:

Hey Kerrigan, can you show me a picture the nozzles. Don

Something like this, the old style rather than the round fire-hydrant type used now.

Your part looks like 6101107339 and the web states unavailable.  Do not take that to the bank on unavailable.  Give them a call.  

Marty might be right. Check that out first. If they are out send me one and we can make a few and see how you like them. Don

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Your part looks like 6101107339 and the web states unavailable.  Do not take that to the bank on unavailable.  Give them a call.  

I am seeing PN 6208011339 marked as available. I may as well buy the whole trailing truck for 18.50... 6308071338.

But to get me going I was hoping for a quick fix. 

Don't forget the $10.00 shipping fee...

brr posted:

Don't forget the $10.00 shipping fee...

 that's the point... This one will have to hit the shelf until I have a equitable list to make up for the 9 dollar shipping fee... 

It makes you angry, but there is nothing you can do... 

Maybe you looked, but eBay is often my pats source. Most any of these Delrin truck bearings will do; if it wants to slip out, a small plate glued on the truck underside will keep it in.

This may be 2017, but parts do not have to be made out of plastic. 

Re-discover - or discover - brass; bushings, eyelets, grommets from the hardware/crafts store. Use a file. Maybe a drill. Handiwork. Any of these things can make a fine truck bearing for a little choo-choo.

If you do buy a bearing from Lionel, buy a handful, as suggested above. Same s/h, and next time, you'll have a part to use or adapt.

Really I would buy one too!   I figured with all the "build it yourself, you are into the model train hobby where we make things work ourselves and don't rely on a company that makes a product to make sure you have what it takes to make it work" I would toss that out there.  LOL 

Jim 

Wait until you have other parts to order, and you risk having the part be out of stock when you finally try to buy it. I've had that happen to me.  

I agree with Marty, buy the part while you can get it, and order a couple of extras.
If there are other consumables you can use, order them too.

If its a dollar for the part and ten dollars shipping, then it's an eleven dollar part. You still need it.

That $18.50 truck is $28.50 when you consider shipping.

Back in the MPC days, if you contacted customer service, Lionel probably would have just sent you one.

What ever you decide to do, good luck.

"If you do buy a bearing from Lionel, buy a handful, as suggested above. Same s/h, and next time, you'll have a part to use or adapt."

Yes, I have done this every year at the Lionel 50% part off sale... "Have a hunch buy a bunch" is my purchasing motto... now you should see the stack of driver boards and smoke units I have. 

Problem is ... my crystal ball has grown dark...

Any other lionel tenders kicking around that you might borrow a bearing?

hmm. looking... do the tenders share the same bearings? Seems the more I look, the more variations there are!

J daddy, you are angry over $9.00?  I always like your posts, but $9.00????

audi posted:

J daddy, you are angry over $9.00?  I always like your posts, but $9.00????

LOL... yes its silly but its a 2 cent part... and now its sitting all cold and lonely on the shelf. 

J Daddy posted:

"If you do buy a bearing from Lionel, buy a handful, as suggested above. Same s/h, and next time, you'll have a part to use or adapt."

Yes, I have done this every year at the Lionel 50% part off sale... "Have a hunch buy a bunch" is my purchasing motto... now you should see the stack of driver boards and smoke units I have. 

Problem is ... my crystal ball has grown dark...

isn't this place fairly close to you?

Brasseur Electric Trains
410 Court Street
Saginaw, MI 48602

and they have the part for 80 cents.

http://www.traindoctor.com/ser...ionel/8010to8200.php

I would have ordered 4 or 6 of them.  some smoke fluid that smells good. and some traction tires if I had engines that took them.    Today lol 

Jim 

bigdodgetrain posted:

J Daddy posted:

"If you do buy a bearing from Lionel, buy a handful, as suggested above. Same s/h, and next time, you'll have a part to use or adapt."

Yes, I have done this every year at the Lionel 50% part off sale... "Have a hunch buy a bunch" is my purchasing motto... now you should see the stack of driver boards and smoke units I have. 

Problem is ... my crystal ball has grown dark...

isn't this place fairly close to you?

Brasseur Electric Trains
410 Court Street
Saginaw, MI 48602

 

and they have the part for 80 cents.

http://www.traindoctor.com/ser...ionel/8010to8200.php

Great place, however, every time I call them they say " No we don't have that part but we can order it for you from Lionel for 10.00 dollars... Argh..

But I will give them a try...

Would you feel better if it was a $50 part? 

Get a list of some other items and make an order. 

MartyE posted:

Would you feel better if it was a $50 part? 

Get a list of some other items and make an order. 

Sure would Marty - would make my order more meaningful!

No list to date. everything is fixed!

Marty is 100% correct on this one. I always try to repair with genuine Lionel parts or accurately made reproductions. It makes no sense to fabricate unless parts are unavailable. You will end up spending hours trying to replicate a 50 cent part and then hope that it will last.  IMO, not worth the time and effort.

So John. Buy a new truck and some bearings.

hey jdaddy..............not really a train story...but if it helps, the transmission on my 4 runner was ruined due to the

coolant line -from radiator to transmission - rusting out!  and many OTHER parts on the vehicle are stainless steel!  so $9.00?      you got away cheap!

Just a thought: seems like the part was missing from the get-go. Call Lionel & complain. Maybe they'll send you the part for free.

I'd call or email Lionel about it.  I had a Thomas and Friends gondola from an expansion set come with a bent axle.  I sent them an email and they replied asking for my address, and they just sent me a replacement.  I don't think they even asked for the receipt.

Well using that "Ole American Ingenuity" I slid a styrene shim into its place until I order the part. I left it white and trimmed it proud so I can identify it and easily remove it when the part comes in. The styrene shim holds the axle in snug enough to run it and keep a smile on my face.

 Yep .

RIP =

Repair in place, 

Or,

Rest in Peace?

J Daddy,

Glad you came up with the quick fix!  Nice locomotive you have there! Enjoy!

JACKPOT!!����

I'd buy the whole truck and have spares!!! 

It sure is different than back 1963 when I got a MARX HO set for Christmas. The caboose did not have nave railings on the end platforms but included a post card that you taped a dime to and folded the corners over it. They then sent you 3 sets of end railings!!! Times change!! 

AMCDave posted:

I'd buy the whole truck and have spares!!! 

It sure is different than back 1963 when I got a MARX HO set for Christmas. The caboose did not have nave railings on the end platforms but included a post card that you taped a dime to and folded the corners over it. They then sent you 3 sets of end railings!!! Times change!! 

Your right about that... I remember burning my fingers soldering my own handrails from scratch! And making grab irons from staples and using a hot iron to melt them into the car body...