mystery truck castings

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jeanluc83
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mystery truck castings

Post by jeanluc83 »

I picked up a set of aluminum truck frame castings at the PVLS 70th Anniversary meet. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas who might have made them? I posted this over on Facebook and someone suggested Little Engines.

I'm also looking for a little help on bringing these to life. I planning on using these for a riding car once done. What spring rate should I be using? There are spots for two springs on each end of the bolster.

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mogul327
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by mogul327 »

Looks like to me its a pair of alumunum cannonball rollerbearing truck frame pieces and bolsters.
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makinsmoke
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by makinsmoke »

Yup,
Cannonball Backyard Railroad.

Give them a call. They’ll have the springs and stuff.
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Bill Shields
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by Bill Shields »

Work backwards

What weight will the total car and passengers going to be? Divide by 8 for one spring.

How much travel do you want?...big question...

I like no more than 3/16 travel on a riding car..which is controlled by spring binding...

others like more, but I do not like to feel like I am floating.

My rule of thumb is just enough travel so that it will track, no more.

My personal riding cars are spring less...center pivots only....but I digress....you need springs.

So..how much height do you have when the bolster is up?

What diameter to work with for the OD of the spring?

You now have enough information to get started...or at least know that you can get to a solution once you have the trucks built.

Lee springs has a very good calculator on their www site.
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jeanluc83
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by jeanluc83 »

We have a winner! The Cannonball trucks are a match. When I get a chance I'll call to see if I can get a set of springs and some drawings.
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Bill Shields
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by Bill Shields »

giggle...so much for the engineering experience of calculating springs....giggle....
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Glenn Brooks
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by Glenn Brooks »

I saw some truck frames recently just like these at an estate. The owners said his dad acquired them 40 years ago. Interesting to know they came from cannonball. primary supplier to the Hobby in those days.

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jeanluc83
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by jeanluc83 »

Bill Shields wrote: Tue Jun 28, 2022 4:47 pm giggle...so much for the engineering experience of calculating springs....giggle....
I apriciate the information. I'm just a lazy engineer. Why redo the work if I don't have to.

I actually had to design a spring for my machine design course in college. We were given all of the requirements and service life and we had to design a spring from scratch.

I may have to spec out the springs myself anyway. The new frames have spots for 4 springs on each end of the bolster. My casting only has spots for 2.

What is the best way to retain the springs? It doesn't seem like the small bosses on the casting would be enough on their own.
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Bill Shields
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Re: mystery truck castings

Post by Bill Shields »

Actually the bosses are just fine...you do not need anything else.

Once you finally get the springs in place...you will play bloody heck getting them back out.
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