Two of our large-scale Bachmann 2-8-0 consolidations have broken wheel trucks. As does my 4-4-0 Eureka and Pallasides #4. Another Bachmann large-scale locomotive. This is a common problem with Bachmann's large-scale locomotives, and the replacement trucks are usually not available. So is there a way to repair them???
The trucks are made from a kind of plastic that is difficult to glue. A Homopolymer Acetal called Delrin®. Or perhaps some other homopolymer acetal plastic, but nothing seems to hold. One common repair is to remove the side frame screw and drill the hole a bit deeper and reassemble with a longer screw. This often works, but sometimes this is just not an option. Isn't there just some way to glue this?
Well, it seems there is.
Time will tell in this repair, but we glued with Loctite 770 and Loktight 401 glue followed by an activator. We use "Kicker". How Does the Super Glue Accelerator Work? Super glue accelerators are typically acetone-based, using acetone as the primary evaporating agent. This means that once applied, the acetone evaporates leaving an active accelerator ingredient on the surface.
According to the source of all knowledge, the internet, the "kicker" is needed because these plastics are "dry". Most surfaces have some kind of moisture, and that helps set the CA glue. Case in point, have you ever gotten it on your fingers? (We all have) The skin oil sets it off immediately! Your glue joint seems to never set up while your fingers are glued to your nose! Anyway, that's why some materials REQUIRE an activator.
The Loctite 770 is expensive. A small can sells on Amazon for $42.00!! But, shop around. We paid $28.00. Still expensive, but worth it. Also, they say this helps ant plastic to bond with the 401 CA glue.
We were also planning to drill with a small bit and add two brass pins to the sides, but the Loctite seems to be all we need.