The ASF® articulated connection assembly is a system that contains a wedge

that provides for initial assembly clearance and drops by gravity to maintain
zero longitudinal slack.
Automatic adjustment for seating and any wear that accumulates is provided

12.875"-+.062"
.094"
by wedge (G) to maintain a slack-free connection. After longitudinal wear,
wedge travel may be restored by adding a plate shim. Wedge travel is visible
through access holes which also permit insertion of a pry bar to raise wedge
for ease of assembly and disassembly.

A. Male Articulated Connector

B. Female Articulated Connector
C. Follower
D. Spherical Ring
E. Pin Bearing Block
F. Primary Pin
ACCESS HOLE
G. Wedge WEAR INDICATOR GROOVE VISIBLE AND
H. Special Center Pin NOTCH IS AT THE HOLE CENTER WHEN
NECESSARY TO ADJUST
J. Pin Bearing Block Spring
K. Retaining Pin
L. Cotter .31”x1.75” (2 required)
M. Ring Seat
N. O-Ring (120 R1-I-325)
P. 1” Nom. Washer
(2 Required)

11.656"+.062"
-.094"
Diameter 13.88” 15.88”
Height 2.62” 3.31”
SIDE VIEW
Position 8.75” 9.44”

FIGURE 1
REVISED 05/01/94

1
 1. Lubricate pin bearing block rear spherical bearing surface 8,
and side spherical surfaces 8A & 8B (See Fig. 2a). Make sure
lubrication grooves in rear spherical surface 8 are filled with
lubricant (for pin bearing blocks supplied with lubrication grooves).
2. Insert pin bearing block spring and apply a light coating of
lubricant to the pin bearing block spring ends (8C) to facilitate pin
bearing block assembly. Assemble and align pin bearing block
vertically.
3. Lubricate the pin contact surface, 10 of the pin bearing block
and the male connector external spherical surface 9. Make
sure lubricant grooves in pin contact surface 10 are filled with
lubricant (for pin bearing blocks supplied with lubrication grooves.)
4. Assemble ring seat into the female connector cavity and
lubricate the ring seat spherical surface, 11.
5. Install spherical ring above ring seat and coat top surface
12, and pin hole surfaces 6 and 7 with lubricant. The top of the
ring is nominally flush with the top of the center tubular post.
6. Insert a bar through both access holes and rest the wedge on
the bar with the thick portion up and any concavity visible (See
Fig. 2b & 2c for bar examples).
7. Place the follower against the wedge with the spherical
surface visible and cylindrical notch facing downwards.
REVISED 10/01/97
3
8. Raise and hold wedge as high as possible with inserted bars.
9. With the wedge maintained in its top position and with adjacent car
heights approximately equal, move the platform (car) with the
female connector forward over the male connector until it is snug
against the follower and near contact with the spherical ring.
10. Lower the male connector onto the ring.
11. Verify the pin bearing block’s vertical alignment and adjust if
necessary using a bar to seat the pin bearing block so that its
cylindrical surface is vertically aligned with the pin holes of the
female connector. Lower the main pin assembly (F,H and N)
through aligned pin holes until it rests on the truck center plate.
If the pin does not drop freely, the wedge was not held high
enough or the pin bearing block was not vertical. Do not attempt
to sledge the pin down.
12. Install retaining pin and cotter.
13. Remove the bar used to raise and hold up the wedge and allow
the wedge to drop.
Important: Do not use any method to hold up the wedge that
can not be removed externally, since any object that remains
inside the female connector cavity behind follower will prevent the
wedge from dropping.
14. Check wedge height and adjust as described on page 8 if desired.
 4

REVISED 10/01/96

Wedge Lifting Rods:

Examples of bars constructed for lifting the
.75" I.D. PIPE
wedge shim during assembly.
*Fig. 2b – End of rod can be temporarily 30˚

fixed to car so user can 4"

stand clear when connecting 1.5"

.38" FASTEN TO SUIT

units. TOP VIEW

5.5" P
*Fig. 2c – When a piece of conduit is slid 1" .38" x .63" FLAT
over member “P”, user’s 90˚
.5" DIA. STEEL ROD .63" 135˚
2.5"
END .5" DIA.
hands are out of the way when .5"

connecting units. 2.5"

24.25"
.5" DIA.
2.5" 3" 2"

SIDE VIEW

*Above designs have been developed by various railroad & railroad repair shops. FIGURE 2B FIGURE 2C

DISASSEMBLY

Important – Read Before Disassembly of Articulated Connector

* The wedge must be raised using bars through the access holes
(See Fig. 3) prior to attempting to remove the primary pin
assembly.
* The articulated joint may be raised vertically and laterally to
allow removal of the truck without disassembly of the articulated
joint according to the chart shown in Fig. 10. Therefore, it is not
necessary to disassemble articulated connector to change out
wheel sets or work on the truck. You may, in most cases, raise
the entire truck including the assembled articulated connection
to change out wheel sets.
1. Remove cotter pin (L) and retainer pin (K).
2. Raise wedge (G) using bars through the access holes if possible.
3. Remove main pin assembly (F, H and N) either manually, with a power
lift or with a pin removal device.
4. Jack car end containing the male connector (A) until it is slightly clear
of the ring (D).
5. Roll away car body containing female connector (B).
6. To remove the pin bearing block (E), rotate it out of the top of the hole.
 ACCESS HOLE

FIGURE 3
REVISED 05/01/94

5
REVISED 03/27/09

80XX

80XX

80
 WEDGE–FOLLOWER SET

DOUBLE ANGLE WEDGE

The 3829 Double Angle Wedge and 3828 Follower are standard for new PATTERN NUMBER 3829
and replacement applications. The wedge notch is at the center of the
inspection hole when the wedge is at its lowest position.

Wedge Height
The 3829 wedge provides for a longitudinal adjustment range of .286” per
inch of wedge travel.
WEAR INDICATOR GROOVE
VISIBLE AND NOTCH IS
AT THE HOLE CENTER WHEN
NECESSARY TO ADJUST

FIGURE 5

REVISED 05/01/94

7
 8

WEDGE HEIGHT RESTORATION

REVISED 02/01/00

After seating of the cast surfaces, the wedge

height will only be affected by the cumulative 3829 WEDGE
wear of the longitudinally spaced surfaces.
The longevity of automatic slack adjustment
may be restored by adding a plate shim to the
back of the wedge, which is the flat side.
The shim thickness added is dependent upon
the wedge height before disassembly.
See Fig. 7 for plate shim application.

Figure 6 indicates the recommended shim

thickness to be added.

If bottom of 3829 wedge is: Maximum shim is:

In upper half of hole .25”

In lower half of hole .375”
Below the hole .50”

FIGURE 6

FIGURE 7
 SPHERICAL RING HEIGHT

If upon disassembly and inspection, the top surface of the spherical

ring is 1/8” or more below the top of the post, height adjustment 3864 RING SEAT SHIM 3805 RING SEAT SHIM
should be made. If spherical ring is 1/2” or more below top of post,
both the spherical ring & ring seat should be replaced. Raise the top
flat surface of the spherical ring to a position level with or to 1/16”
maximum above the top of the post by the addition of a shim under
the ring seat (See Fig. 8). After ring & ring seat adjustments are
made and connector is reassembled, side bearings should be
inspected and adjusted as necessary.

Material Specifications: AAR S-305 For Wear Liners

1. AISI-1045, Heat Treated
2. ASTM-A514 Grade B, Heat Treated
3. 11% To 14% Manganese Steel, Austenitize At 1850˚
And Water Quench
4. ASTM-A656-GRADE 80 USE SHIM THICKNESS TO RESTORE RING SURFACE
FLUSH WITH TOP OF CENTER POST

SHIMS
FOR RING SEAT PATT. NO. 3864
I. D. O. D. T
7.19” 11.84” .188”
7.19” 11.84” .250”
7.19” 11.84” .313”
7.19” 11.84” .438”

SHIMS
FOR RING SEAT PATT. NO. 3805
I. D. O. D. T
7.31” 10.50” .188”
7.31” 10.50” .250”
7.31” 10.50” .313”
7.31” 10.50” .438” SHIM

FIGURE 8
REVISED 02/01/00
9
 10

SPHERICAL RINGS & RING SEATS

REVISED 04/01/97

Spherical rings and ring seats are machined, flame hardened and
identified as 3800 and 3805 respectively (See Fig. 9a). They are now
the standard for all new or upgraded 14” diameter 70-100 ton center 70-100 TON
plate and 16” diameter 100 ton center plate designs.
3800
3805
The larger machined and flame hardened spherical ring and ring seat
are identified as 3863 and 3864 respectively (See Fig. 9b). These
components are not interchangeable with the 70-100 ton application
spherical rings and ring seats. They are the standard for all new 16”
diameter 125 ton center plate designs.

FIGURE 9A

125 TON
3863

3864

FIGURE 9B