Abstract: A method of manufacturing a railroad freight car brake beam strut assembly including the steps of: providing a railroad strut having an elongated slot defined between first and second sides of the strut, with each side of the strut defining a bore opening to the slot and to an exterior of the strut. The bores defined by the strut are aligned relative to each other along an axis. The methodology of the present disclosure further includes the step of: pressing a brake pin bushing into each bore of the strut in a direction extending away from the longitudinal axis of the strut with each brake pin bushing having first and second ends, and wherein a periphery of each bushing has a frusto-conical surface configuration. A railroad freight car strut assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a railroad freight car brake beam strut assembly including the steps of: providing a railroad freight car brake beam strut having an axially aligned slot defined between first and second sides of the strut, with each side of the strut defining a bore opening to the slot and to an exterior of the strut, with the bores defined by the strut being aligned relative to each other along an axis extending generally normal to a longitudinal axis of the strut. The methodology of the present disclosure further includes the step of: pressing a brake pin bushing into each bore of the strut in a direction extending away from the longitudinal axis of the strut. A railroad freight car strut assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A strut having a reversible fulcrum, which can be changed, from a left strut to a right strut, for using in brake beams of the type comprising; a compression member, a “V” shaped tension member having a central apex coupled to the ends of the compression member; a brake shoe linked to the each end of the compression member; and a strut, wherein the strut having a reversible fulcrum comprising: a fulcrum body having a first end and a second end, a central slot passing through a central portion of the fulcrum body at a side portion thereof and an off-center pinhole passing through the fulcrum body at a central portion of a front portion of the fulcrum body; a hollow bell joint, having a dome rotary coupled to a central portion of the tension member and a tubular open end at which the first end of the fulcrum body is coupled; and a crown joint having a first end including an internal annular border, rotary receiving the second end of the fulcrum body, and a second end having two opposite holding skir