K-Line Heavyweight Passenger Car Trucks

peanutboo posted:

I have a question that I believe some have run into.  I bought a few K-Line Heavyweight passenger cars over the holidays and now I'm running into problems with the couplers breaking at the knuckle pin. Is there an MTH,  Lionel or aftermarket replacement for these 6 wheel/3axle trucks?  I have a K-Line replacement knuckle and sure enough, that broke upon installation this morning. It seems that the Zinc issue is not the problem here, just cheap brittle materials and too delicate. Cost can be an issue but if they hold-up I would have to go the more expensive route.  Thanks, Barry

I think this fits, and is a Lionel coupler. I have the part number for the coupler armature but not for the coupler. Maybe you can find it from the pictures.

Barry i have been told by a couple dealers that the lionel trucks will work on the k-line. I never tried it and see if they work but i do know lionel trucks will work on most k-line cars. 

Looks like it might be 6SP 8238 129 but that shows as unavailable...looking for another part #...

cjack posted:

Looks like it might be 6SP 8238 129 but that shows as unavailable...looking for another part #...

Type "coupler" into the window for "replacement part number". Brings up a lot of couplers and maybe you can pick one that has the shape, etc. you need for the K Line. It will be one that uses a T bar and fits the proper armature above.

I have used Lionel knuckles, springs and rivets on several K-Line locos and freight cars as well as other makes. I have several of the K-Line 18" Heavyweights and the coupler assemblies look like all of the other rolling stock I have. I don't see why they wouldn't work on the heavyweight trucks.

A few years back I had to replace my K-Line Heavyweight truck assemblies as they suffered from zinc pest. The sides on the truck split apart leaving wheelsets on the rails and the passenger car setting on the track causing a short.

I would highly recommend replacing the whole truck assembly on the K-Line Heavyweight passenger cars that begin with 44 and 2 more numbers(examples 4400, 4402).

Lee Fritz

I use MTH couplers.  The attachment  end is 1/2  as thick as Kline, but you can shim that with small washers. The other problem with the Kline coupler is the retainer (underneath) piece.  It is cheap plastic.  The MTH piece is metal, and you need to cut away the back portion so it does not hit one of the axles.  The Kline couplers simply do not hold closed at all.

Thanks all for giving me advice.  I think I will try the Lionel part first as pictured by CJACK, for that is the correct looking part.  The K-Line part might just be inferior-ly made or just old stock.  Barry

Examine trucks carefully.  I just ran in to this zinc pest issue on my K-Line NYC cars.  The wheels rotted some on my observation car.  At that point it can slide on the axle and it hits the base plate which is metal and shorts the AC input.  I wound up breaking off the wheels, they crush easily and it is now a 4 wheel truck.  Problem is side frames are staked so no easy disassembly.   G