Fiber washers.

[onequiknova]

As I tune up my freight car fleet, I often find myself needing to adjust the ride height to get the couplers at the right height. Of course I have the Kadee washers, but I can't remember a car where they actually fit over the bolsters, and opening the holes in the washers is a PITA. Does anyone have a source of fiber washers that fit cars like Tangent and Exactrail?

[fishbelly]

Sorry I cannot help you with a source for fiber washers.

This is where a 3D printer comes in handy. I have to do this all the time because I have a lot of the older cars. AHM, Tyco, Roundhouse, Atlas and so on. The trucks I use rarely fit these cars. When I was using Shapeways I made a bunch of these. I made them thicker than I needed. I would figure out the height I needed for the washer, tape them to the top of the vise and trim them on the mill. I run into a diameter issue all the time too. I bought a series of drill bits to take care of that.

Brian

[Mr. Trainiac]

I have a hole punch set that I use to make styrene shims sometimes. It has different sized threaded inserts to change the hole size. I first punch the center hole, and if you're accurate, you can line up the outer punch concentric to the inner one to cut out the washer. Other times I leave the outside square or trim the corners to make an octagon shape.

Here is something similar at Harbor Freight: www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html

[riogrande]

Jan 4, 2024 10:39:20 GMT -8 onequiknova said:

As I tune up my freight car fleet, I often find myself needing to adjust the ride height to get the couplers at the right height. Of course I have the Kadee washers, but I can't remember a car where they actually fit over the bolsters, and opening the holes in the washers is a PITA. Does anyone have a source of fiber washers that fit cars like Tangent and Exactrail?

I have had the same problem. Kadee needs to up their game and offer fiber washers with bigger holes. In some cases I've been able to enlarge the hold with a round needle file, but sometimes even that isn't enough.

[onequiknova]

Jan 4, 2024 10:52:39 GMT -8 Mr. Trainiac said:

I have a hole punch set that I use to make styrene shims sometimes. It has different sized threaded inserts to change the hole size. I first punch the center hole, and if you're accurate, you can line up the outer punch concentric to the inner one to cut out the washer. Other times I leave the outside square or trim the corners to make an octagon shape.

Here is something similar at Harbor Freight: www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html

I actually have a set of these. It never occurred to me to make shims with them. This may be the way to go.

[onequiknova]

Jan 4, 2024 11:46:09 GMT -8 riogrande said:

Jan 4, 2024 10:39:20 GMT -8 onequiknova said:

As I tune up my freight car fleet, I often find myself needing to adjust the ride height to get the couplers at the right height. Of course I have the Kadee washers, but I can't remember a car where they actually fit over the bolsters, and opening the holes in the washers is a PITA. Does anyone have a source of fiber washers that fit cars like Tangent and Exactrail?

I have had the same problem. Kadee needs to up their game and offer fiber washers with bigger holes. In some cases I've been able to enlarge the hold with a round needle file, but sometimes even that isn't enough.

That what I've been doing. The problem with that is the file usually rolls the edge over, then the truck doesn't sit right, or tighten down properly.

[canrailfan]

Just a reminder, washers for shimming car height don't have to be made of fibre. I've used nylon and metal washers as well.

[riogrande]

Jan 4, 2024 12:49:53 GMT -8 onequiknova said:

Jan 4, 2024 11:46:09 GMT -8 riogrande said:

I have had the same problem. Kadee needs to up their game and offer fiber washers with bigger holes. In some cases I've been able to enlarge the hold with a round needle file, but sometimes even that isn't enough.

That what I've been doing. The problem with that is the file usually rolls the edge over, then the truck doesn't sit right, or tighten down properly.

If that happens, I just rub it flat on a bigger file.

[nebrzephyr]

Washers

[tom]

Jan 4, 2024 10:52:39 GMT -8 Mr. Trainiac said:

I have a hole punch set that I use to make styrene shims sometimes. It has different sized threaded inserts to change the hole size. I first punch the center hole, and if you're accurate, you can line up the outer punch concentric to the inner one to cut out the washer. Other times I leave the outside square or trim the corners to make an octagon shape.

Here is something similar at Harbor Freight: www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html

I use that method too! Works great and I have used the hole punch to make washers from 0.005" thick up to 0.020" thick. Also if you need the hole to be a little bigger in diameter then that is easy to with a round file but use it before you use the outer punch. The styrene washers then can easily be glued onto the plastic bolster.

[danpik]

I found fiber washers at McMaster Carr. 100 for about $5.00 in both .015" and .030" thickness. They look suspiciously like the washers that kadee sells. .250" outside dia and .125 hole

[grabirons]

I use my exacto blade to slightly widen the hole by carefully holding a washer bewteen two fingers, then giving the exacto blade a few turns until the washer fits on the bolster/screw hole.