Shim up the middle axle?

Don't have one personally to look at.  Is the excessive play caused by the slot in the bottom cover being too deep?  Or flexibility of the bottom cover?  Or?

Once the cause is established, maybe a fix can be suggested.  

I think the Bowser version has a completely different drive, and I'm not sure if your old sideframes would fit.  Same with the Atlas RSD5 trucks.  Totally different way of mounting the sideframes.

Scott Chatfield

Bottom Cover flexibility

Bottom cover is too flexible. no way to shim.

Convert A-1-A

I have seem similar issues with Athearn PA (inside bearing) trucks due to excessive clearance between the cover and the axle, the axle droops enough the gears disengage causing axle hop . I'm not sure that occurs on all PA trucks , could just be a defective truck .

If I were having that issue with a truck that I couldn't replace , I would convert it to A-1-A power truck by getting  spare axles and removing the gear teeth and installing on the center axle.

Cover

Would it be possible to just epoxy a thin shim to the underside of thhe truck cover, making it more ridgid?

Mike in Florida

Can you provide some images

Can you provide some images of the gearbox as many are not familiar with it.

Just blue skying it, if the cover is too flexible could you tie it on with some thread?

Did Stewart use Delron or styrene for the side frame?

If it is Delron, I'm not sure if there is an adhesive that will work, but if it is styrene try gluing a shim to reinforce the side frame.  I would not use epoxy.  Epoxy really does not weld plastic together.  It sits on the surface like acc.  A plastic cement that welds 2 pieces of plastic together would work better.  If it isn't styrene, you might try abs adhesive from plastruct. 

Did Bowser ever make a version of the As 616 Baldwin from Stewart tooling?  If so complete Bowser replacement trucks might be able to be made to work.

Could the truck side frame be copied and new ones made with a 3d printer? 

No Clearance

Bottom gear box cover is too low to use a shim on the bottom and it still must be removable for maintenance and such. Tying it on with tread may case clearance issues, may try it anyway. If all else fails I may try to convert it to an A-1-A type truck by removing the center axle gearing.

No to A-1-A conversion

Thought about converting the center axle to an idler. That won't work either, center axle gear is part of truck gearing system. Also found out a set of newer replacement trucks will cost about $50. Ugh.

In that case , I would either

In that case , I would either convert to a AS16 or try to limit the the vertical travel of the center axle .  For $50 I think I would rather find an old brass Halmark to pair it with and convert that one to  dummy.

The only other thing I could suggest is aluminum tape wrapped over the cover a back up the sides of the truck , its only a few thousands thick , strong, and will adhere to just about any clean surface , it should keep the cover from sagging.

Hallark AS616

I had a Hallmark AS616, and if I remember correctly, the center axle was not geared, so the truck could lose traction, if the center set of wheels lifted the other wheels.  If an AS16 would fit the roster, that conversion might be the best option.  That was the reason I sold my Hallmark.

Bill 

Bought new trucks

Thanks for all the suggestions. After much thought and some recent sales of some items no longer needed I splurged and bought new trucks. Hopefully i will be able to adapt them to the older frame, or make a new frame if needed.

Charlie