I wanted to update my rolling stock with metal wheelsets. there are so many brands, are some better than others? Are they all interchangable? do the trucks need to be replaced? are there any tricks to get good rolling cars?
I have 150+ cars, some passenger to do. Economics does paly a roll.
thanks for the input
Everyone seems to like Intermountain followed by Proto 2000. I have been using Bachmann metal wheels as well; they are a bit less expensive in 10 packs, but with the number of cars you are talking about, you might want to look at the Intermountain bulk pack of 100.
I’ve been using the proto2000 but recently there have been posts of some bad batches. The Intermountain seems to be the favorite here, mostly because of the metal axles.
I use Intermountain almost exclusively. The 33" and 36" are available in 100 wheelset packs, priced between $60 to $70, depending on the place.
Nick
The Intermountain wheelsets are good but I replace them “all” with Kadee wheelsets, the axles are not magnetic so they won’t get hung on permanent magnet uncouplers, they have excellent detail and rolling qualities, can also be bought “inbulk” and out of over 500 wheelsets I’ve only had 2 bad ones.
Proto’s look nice but I have encountered “oval” wheels with them whcih makes for a nice wobble, otherwise they are a good looking wheel. As for the others on the market I haven’t even bothered looking at them as the Kadee’s do such a nice job for me.
Mark
i still don’t understand the fixation on replacement metal wheels but there seems to be a stampede in that direction. perhaps i am just lucky but i still run a bunch of cars (a couple of hundred) with plastic wheels mixed it with a like number of cars equipped with metal wheels and i don’t have any problems or reason to make a wholesale changeover.
what ever you do, get yourself a truck tuner tool and use it on every plastic sideframe truck you have. that little gadget is on of the best investments i ever made.
grizlump
thanks everyone for the input,
i was wondering if those truck tuners really worked. i will have to get one.
The only thing I don’t like about the Kadee wheels is they’re either blackened or painted black. The color seems to wear off and get on the tracks.
I prefer Kadee wheelsets as Mark mentioned. I like them because they are flat black color instead of shiny metal color. Walthers has Kadee wheelsets on sale in their July flyer, and most local hobby shops honor Walthers sale prices. .
Grizlimp mentioned a “truck tuner” and I agree it’s a handy gadget. It’s available from Micromark.
Many of my freight cars still have plastic wheelsets, and I am slowly changing to metal.
Mark, the Intermountain wheel sets are non magnetic at well, they are nickel plated brass.
At the risk of previously debated controversy, I will explain what I do.
In the quest for long trains, no derailments and smooth operation, and after much testing, I use mostly Kadee metal sprung trucks which I refit with Intermountain wheel sets.
This combination has proven to be more free rolling than any rigid sideframe truck, it tracks better, it adds weight to the cars at the lowest point and they sound good going over rail joints.
These free rolling trucks have shown an increase of 20-30% in the length of trains that can be pulled.
I buy mostly Kadee self centering trucks because of the superior design of the “kingpin” and I ad a very small drop of oil to each journal as I install the Intermountain wheel sets. Seldom if ever does a truck ever need to be relubed as the cast metal “holds” the oil and perminently lubricates the axle. I have never had any problem with dirt buildup because of the oil (no pets in train room, heated and air conditioned finsihed space).
Its not the cheapest way, but when you back 50 cars through a crossover with a single Mikado you know it was the right way.
And while we are on the subject, because I us NMRA standard trackage, I will NOT use semi scale wheels or couplers.
Sheldon
I go Kadee trucks on most stuff (there are some truck types they don’t make like Fox).
Well, I never paid enough attention to the Intermountain wheelsets to know they were “plated” brass but for me that’s just another reason to stay with the Kadee’s, but if it works for you and you’re happy with them so much the better although the reasoning behind buying Kadee trucks and replacing the wheelsets escapes me, again, if you’re happy with them that’s what matters.
I have “1” question though, what are your plans for the Kadee wheelsets???
Mark
What scale are you in? Fox Valley wheelsets seem to be the most desirable in N scale these days. I don’t know if they are made in HO. They look great and can be ordered for several different types of trucks.
Definitely. In many cases, which ones are better is a personal choice. As noted above, some will swear by Kadees, others swear at 'em… Same with Intermountain, and Proto 2K. My personal preference is Reboxx (maker of Intermountain wheelsets). The only issue (for some) with Reboxx is that they have only the narrower (0.088") treads, as opposed to the standard 0.110" treads. They look much better, IMHO, but that may be just me.
Incidentally, Intermountian and Reboxx wheelsets are NOT “nickel-plated brass” . They are solid nickel silver (which is a form of brass, and contains no nickel or silver). And Kadee wheels are made with a process called “sintering”, which uses powdered metal particles under high pressure in a mold to produce the wheels. This produces a more porous wheel, which tends to pick up more “crud” from the track.
Yes and no. P2K and Kadee are pretty much so. Intermountain has a somewhat shorter axle length. Reboxx wheelsets come with a wide range of axle lengths, to exactly fit the truck you are using. Their website has charts for just about any truck made within the past 50 years or so.
No, not usually.
Good wheelsets in good sideframes, and the above-mentioned truck tuner. With truly free-rolling cars, however, you may find that you have some grades you didn’t know about…
Indeed. I sympathize completely. The replacement wheelsets can run to around $10 for 12 sets (axles). That’s 3 freight cars or 2
I only replace wheels if I have a problem.
I use Intermountain if I am only replacing the wheels and Kadee if I am replacing the trucks too.
The reason is ROLLING RESISTANCE, the Kadee trucks as supplied roll OK, not great. With the Intermountain wheelsets they reduce rolling resistance by 20-30% compaired to the BEST rigid sideframe plastic trucks, regardless of what wheelset is in the plastic trucks.
And, sprung metal trucks (because they are equalized) track better than rigid trucks.
When I get a suitable quantity, I sell them on Ebay, or to you if you send me a private message.
Sheldon
Thanks for the correction, somehow I knew that and forgot.
Sheldon