Athearn 34 Foot Hopper Repair Part

thingiverse

The threaded posts in [Athearn 34-foot hoppers](https://hoseeker.net/athearninstructionscars1970/34hopper1973.jpg) seem prone to crumbling, perhaps due to the screws having been over tightened in the past. This part can be used to replace a broken post. The part incorporates the angle (30 degrees) necessary for the post to be vertical when bonded to the body of the car. The steps are: <ol> <li>Print the thing in this listing</li> <li>Drill and tap the hole in the thing for a 2-56 screw. As-printed, the hole is undersized to facilitate this.</li> <li>Cut the damaged post off the hopper car. I used a pair of flush cutters and then cleaned up with a chisel-shaped hobby knife blade. For the subsequent gluing operation, it is important that the broken post be cleanly removed</li> <li>Attach the printed part to the car's underframe with a screw. To do this, it may be necessary to trim the underframe where it meets the printed part.</li> <li> Apply glue to the underside of the printed part. Because the bond area is large, either CA or PVA glue will work. As ever, a preparatory dry fit is a good idea.</li> <li>Assemble the underframe and printed part to the body of the hopper car. The steel weight can be left out for now. Use a screw to fasten the other end of the underframe to the body of the car. This will ensure the distance between the repaired post and the old post is correct.</li> <li>Apply pressure to the bond and allow the glue to dry.</li> <li>After the glue has dried, unscrew both ends of the underframe, add the steel weight at the end with the broken post and re-assemble. Because the steel weight is resting on the printed replacement part, it will be slightly higher than before. If necessary, trim the underframe with a hobby knife so that it sits properly with respect to the body of the car. It should not be necessary to drill out the hole in the steel weight, but that can be done if necessary.</li> </ol>