TM 55-203
out the caved-in portion. At the .same time a jack
c. Minor Repairs. Defective side or floor sheet
should be placed across the end of the car to push out
may be cut out at the stakes or at cross bearer and sills
the corners. If the end is 'bulged out, it may be jacked
to make light or minor repairs (organizational and direct
back into position with a jack based on another car
support maintenance). Patch sheets will then lap over
coupled end to end with the bulged car. Cars with
the edges of the remaining portions of the old sheet. If
damaged ends often have pulled in corners. These
the sides become distorted (steel-sided cars) from the
should be shaped to the proper position by jacking at the
strain of excessive loads, a turn buckle bar of sufficient
same time repairs are made at the ends. Repair of
length to hook over the sides of the car will pull them
damaged sides and ends of 40-ton gondolas may
back into shape. If the side of a car is bent in, it can be
involve only replacement of wooden parts. This requires
jacked out to the proper position with an ordinary jack.
carpenter skill only.
If side structural steel truss
The side plates at the opposite side of the car can be
members of high-side gondolas or steel posts of low-
used as an anchor or base for the jack by bracing
side gondolas are damaged to the extent that
properly with thick timbers so as to distribute the force
replacement is necessary, the type of repair and the
over a wide area. When the end of a gondola is caved
place for performing repairs becomes a matter of
in, it may be jacked out by placing heavy timbers
judgment on the part of the responsible maintenance
against the crosstie, one on each side near the center
personnel.
sills, and arranging jacks between the timbers to push
Section V. HOPPER CARS
inside hopper sheets, long hood support, lever guides,
9-26. General
floating lever guides, center sill stiffeners, hinge, butt
supports, outside sill stiffener and center sills, body
A hopper car is a freight-carrying car with the floor
center plates, back center sill fillers, center braces, draft
sloping from the ends and sides to one or more hoppers,
sills, draft and end sill gussets, top follower guides,
which are capable of discharging their entire load by
handbrake steps, brake mast step, uncoupling device,
gravity through the hopper doors, a self-cleaning
body bolsters, and airbrakes; old rivets should be
feature.
The hopper compartment doors may be
removed from all material to be repaired or used in
opened or closed as required. The door operating gear
replacement.
consists of a shaft, ratchet gear, paw], and chain
linkage. All hopper doors are provided with locking
b. Reassembly. Material to be reapplied to the
devices to secure the doors in closed position. Covered
car should be positioned at the proper place along the
hopper cars are permanently inclosed, equipped with
assembly track. Bolsters and diaphragms should be
tight-fitting covers and doors. They are used for the
assembled at some point other than the erecting track
shipment of chemical products (sulphur, etc.) in bulk.
so that they can be applied to the car in a single
compact unit. Reassembly is accomplished at several
9-27. Major Repairs
positions along the erecting track in the following
sequence:
a. Dismantling. For complete rebuild or major
repairs, hopper cars are disassembled on an outlying
(1) After assembly, place the body bolsters
track in the following manner. At the first position the
and diaphragms on four trestles at opposite ends of the
ends, crosstie braces, side gussets, and coupler carrier
first position. Fit the center sill to the bolsters and
bolts are removed. The car is then moved to the
square them. Apply the following units: long hood
second position where the sides and long hoods are
supports, body side bearings, bolster diaphragm fillers,
dismantled. Side sheets are not cut loose at this time.
end sills, side sills, striking castings, striking casting
Couplers and draft riggings are then removed and parts
braces, draft attachments, top follower guides, center
needing repair sent to the proper shop. At the next
braces, center plate fillers, sill stiffeners, center
position the hopper slope sheets, floor sheets, cross
crossbridge brace, brake rod anchor assembly, brake
bridges, drop doors, hinge pins, and hinge butts are
rod anchor, body center plates, lever connection guides,
removed. If the cross-bridge sheets are to be scrapped,
floating lever guide fillers, and hinge butt supports.
it will be necessary to cut off the crossbridge and center
cross-bridge braces. At the final dismantling position
the remaining parts are removed. These parts include
9-11
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