Owners Manual and Parts List

Welded Steel Car Floors

Catalog Numbers 15C1A, 15C1B, 15C2A, and 15C2B

Overview

This floor provides a complete, ready-to-use car with the addition of trucks and couplers.  You may also use it as the basis for your own designs. Please note that if you are adding seats, you must take responsibility for the proper and safe design of this addition.

Installation of Couplers

A hole is provided at each end of the floor for coupler attachment.  Unless ordered otherwise, the position of this hole is for the use of standard shank couplers.  The length of your coupler shank must allow the coupler to project far enough to swing freely.

Most standard couplers have a shank that is 3/4 inch (19mm) high.  If yours is thicker than this it will be necessary to mill, file or grind it to this thickness.  If you are unable to do this yourself and cannot find someone in your area please contact us.  If your coupler shank is considerably thinner than this dimension you should add washers (not included) above and below the coupler at the coupler bolt to place the coupler vertically in the center of the opening.

Your coupler shank should have a nominal 3/8” hole for the coupler bolt.  The hole should allow a slightly loose fit so that the coupler swings freely without allowing excessive play (slightly larger or smaller holes can be produced with letter size drills).  If a hole is not provided in your coupler, or if it is too small,  it must be drilled.  Use care in locating this hole so that it is not so close to the side or end of the coupler shank that it weakens it.  If the hole provided is too large it should be reduced in diameter with a bushing (not included).

The floor is shipped with two hardened steel clevis pins for coupler mounting.  These install from the top of the floor.  Also included are two spring clips that go through the crosswise hole in the lower end of the clevis pin.  Install these spring clips with the straight side through the hole and with the pin against the underside of the mounting tube.

Installation of Trucks

Trucks mount with a center pivot bolt and center pivot button.  The bolt installs from the top of the floor through the entire floor assembly.  The center pivot button is the round part that fits into the matching recess in the top of our trucks.  The button is threaded and screws on to the portion of the center pivot bolt that extends below the floor assembly.  The threads are recessed on one side, this side must go upward, towards the car floor or the bolt can not be fully tightened.  Do not force or over-tighten this bolt when installing.  On painted cars these parts are assembled and used in packaging the car.  On unpainted cars you must install these parts.  Also supplied are nylon insert lock nuts and flat washers to be placed below the truck so that the car can be lifted with the trucks attached (optional).

Coat all sliding surfaces (center pivot and rocker pads) with a heavy-duty, waterproof grease before installing the trucks.  Clean these surfaces and re-coat periodically during maintenance.

To install trucks it is recommended that the car be turned over on a padded surface (Caution - heavy, two persons are required).  Install the trucks while upside down.  If using the nuts and washers, it may be necessary to reach under the car and hold the center pivot bolt to prevent it from turning.  Do not allow this bolt to come loose while tightening the nut.

For other brands of trucks or other mounting methods you must design the mounting system yourself.  The reliability and safety of your car, and your enjoyment of it will depend on how well you design this mounting.  These instructions are provided to give the basic details for use.  They are not intended in any way to be design guidance.  If you do not feel comfortable doing the design yourself we strongly advise you to seek out more experienced modelers for help.  If you are unsure of anything, please contact us.  Your design should result in the center of the coupler opening being the correct distance above the top of the rail with a normal load on the car (for current IBLS standards this is 4 3/8” (111mm), some clubs may have other standards).

Replacement Parts List (for One Car)