Track Crimping Pliers

When Lionel originally introduced track pliers, separate pairs were made for "O" and "O27" track. After several years they switched to a universal pair. All these track pliers were made by krauter, and were modified Linesman pliers.

I would think the size specific pliers would work better, but I really never tried them.

I have a pair of aftermarket universal pliers that I purchased from Stan Orr years ago. They worked pretty much as Bob described.

I modified them to fit tightly around the rails, and deepened the nib that is supposed to crimp the pin. They work nicely now.

You crimp the track before you insert the pins. The pins will then be a snug fit.

Larry

There are two sizes, I have both.  Olsen's used to sell them, they took a pair of lineman's pliers and modified them for the appropriate sized rail.

Timely topic. I need a pair - what would anyone recommend for Lionel Tubular Track Plyers?

Thank you.

Paul

Or just take a pair of regular needle-nose pliers and crimp from the end of the rail to the tightness desired....

Track pliers are available here and here.

Larry

I use a set of miniature nipper end pliers to firm the grip on the track pins. The trouble with the commercial track pliers is that they are designed for dedicated use on Lionel and only on tubular style track. If you use track pliers on flat rail track like Gargraves or Ross they will deform the rail end.

Thanks Larry.  I had begun to think that crimping them without pins would work better.  It's tips like this that make the forum a great place to be!  

For Ross and Gargraves track, would the O-27 pliers work better than the O-31 pliers?  Or is there a specific tool for them?  Thanks.

I still have both pair that my grandfather purchased by mail order. They came together in a leather pouch. Until a year ago I used both on a regular basis.

"Pappy"

quote:

I still have both pair that my grandfather purchased by mail order. They came together in a leather pouch. Until a year ago I used both on a regular basis.

I haven't seen the pouch.

I have a boxed pair of the 027 ones. I don't recall whether it's the ST-342 or ST-343. One is for "O" the other for "027". The box is a two piece grey chipboard box with a small paper label.

These two pliers go for considerably more than the ST-384 universal pair.

Track pliers were also offered in the early part of the 1970's, and again around 1992. A pair was included in the Service Station tool outfit (arbor press). None of these pliers were made by Krauter. The 1970's ones were Japanese. The 1992 ones were from China.

I have a small pair of top cutters(cousin of side cutters) with flattened blades. It reaches over, and around the tube. Pin in, I start squeezing lightly on the tube, at just below the center line of the pin. As I increase pressure, it slides along the pins circumference, drawing the metal tight to the pin till the jaws meet flattening, and then squaring off the upright & base.

 Gripping the track upright at the ties, I then use a flat screwdriver wedged under the pliers and twist to force the ties tabs closed(also thumb held on the ties end, they tend to bend up as the tabs go down).

 When done bending the rail, I use needle nose on the notch. But not to squeeze it! I rest one tip on the pin-supported rail top, towards the outside edge, the other tip on the bottom inside edge at the pin notch. Twisting crimps into the pin notch, down low, & inside on the rail. I don't usually double crimp, too hard to remove.

 I prefer this as a "first assault" because if you close them too far, they can flair too far open at the tube tip when the pin is reinserted (noisier & tin plate bounces off). But I do pull pins & crimp empty tubes that don't take well, after I do the above. It helps get the shape closer to right. Then I do the above again.

Bob, pins out. I use diagonal plies,cutting edge on bottom of the tube rail. 6"or 8" pair work well. I been using them on tube and GG works great.

The track pliers also have the ability to re-form bent and dented track ends within reason.

Larry

Ron:

No, Gargraves and Ross have a flat rail head but those pliers are designed to re-round a tubular rail head.  Just use a pair of long-nose pliers to crimp the sides of Gargraves or Ross rails.

Bill

CW,

My grandfather's track-plier set were re-purposed WWII vintage lineman's pliers. Both served different purposes on both Std & O-Gauge track. My grandfather past in March 1955. I enjoyed using these until one year ago. That's when they disappeared(?) from my workbench after a train session.

God Bless,

"Pappy" 

Bill,

Thanks for the reply.  Long-nose pliers is what I'm using now, but I thought maybe dedicated track crimping pliers might work better.

I also have a set of crimping pliers that don't quite do the job (I think I also got them from Stan Orr). I've found that by carefully aligning the crimping nub with the groove in the pin and crimping twice, once with the nub facing each way, I get a solid crimp that holds the pin in place. You have to align the pliers so the nub is right up at the place where the round part of the rail joins the vertical part. If you center the pliers on the rail, nothing useful will happen. 

quote:

y grandfather's track-plier set were re-purposed WWII vintage lineman's pliers. Both served different purposes on both Std & O-Gauge track. My grandfather past in March 1955. I enjoyed using these until one year ago. That's when they disappeared(?) from my workbench after a train session.

The official postwar Lionel track pliers were all made by Krauter, and were modified linesman's pliers. They were embossed around the hinge rivet with the part number, and some verbiage. I'd have to look at a pair to get the exact words.

Do you recall whether yours were marked?

I find it very sad to read that your pliers disappeared. Am I reading your comment correctly, were they stolen by one of your guests?

Here are a couple of photos I had handy

Supplementing C W’s post in which his first photo did not open up, attached is a file showing both sides of my track pliers (Lionel part #ST-384).  If you can’t read the small printing, one side is stamped “MADE FOR LIONEL BY KRAEUTER” and the other side is stamped “O & O27 TRACK” in the center and “TRACK PLIERS NO. ST.384 PAT. PEND” around the circle.  

So those are the exact words that C W was referring to in his post above.

The Service Manual also points out that in addition to its track reforming function, the pliers can be used to “remove and crimp in track pins, tighten rail joints in assembled track and cut and strip insulating connecting wire”.

HTH,

Bill