What a poor design by Lionel are these trucks with wheels keep falling out with the plastic plastic insert that holds them into the truck. Sure one can gently squeeze the truck frames in but be careful because they easily snap off. Anyway is there a secret to getting the wheels back into the plastic insert before ripping out all of my hair
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Try soaking in hot water to soften the plastic enough to be able to open slide the axle assembly in place and squeeze closed while still warm wrap a rubber band around it until it cools or use a very low seating on a hair blow dryer or heat gun. Good luck.
Maybe I wasn' clear about the truck design. The truck is metal which has plastic slide in inserts to hold the wheels in place. Spreading the metal sides apart to drop wheels and plastic insert is risky in cracking off the truck side
I don't remember mine falling out but I have put some together. I remember taking both sides with the wheels in place and sliding them into the metal truck. They should snap in.
While I fully understand you being upset. Let’s remember a few things. First if not for MPC/General Mills there would be no Lionel. Two these products are over 35 years old and have held up pretty good. Three and most importantly these trains at the time was the best available for the price. You cannot judge the past based on what we have today.
Bob even if the frames are metal the heat will still soften them maybe enough to squeeze them together. I have the Blue Comet Crescent sets and I will look at mine and see if I can help you any.
The trick to these is you need to pop out the plastic bearing strip to remove/replace the wheels. Look carefully right above the journal box. You will see a cut-out where the bearing strip tang catches there. There is one above each wheel. use a small bladed screw driver and push in on the tang. it will pop out. Usually only one needs to be released and the whole strip will drop out. When re-installing, be sure the catch on the strip snaps into the cut-out on the sideframe. If not the whole thing will drop out or the car will ride lop-sided. If the wheels still drop out, the strip is damaged and will need to be replaced. The part is readily available.
Thanks. Any ideas to put the wheels back in?
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I do like mpc era trains. The trucks are just the issue. I finally was able to get the wheels back in using your suggestions. I did order more plastic inserts
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