conical wheelset in non-conical truck

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

i recently purchased an older brass bobber caboose missing a wheel. The existing wheel has non-conical, cylindrical ends. See image below.

can i use modern conical wheelset, or will that eventually cause problems or poor performance?

![ ](http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Grandt-Line-HO-5132-Non-Magnetic-Wheelset-4-Wheels-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/EskAAOxyVX1RyFgQ/$(KGrHqN,!qUFGght-LgKBRyFgQ!90!~~60_35.JPG)

2

You could throw one in in a pinch just to have it rolling, However they are probably sprung trucks and may derail all over the place. Try it out while you get the right wheelset, may just work… Be careful twisting the sideframes to install, too much force can pop the sideframe from the bolster, especially when installing the right cylindrical one…

3

I would think the conical axle end would wobble in the cylindrical hole and not perform at all? See my diagram below.

-Bob

4

The answer is “No”. I have a brass tender that had the same problem, and I had to order a non-cylindrical wheel set from NorthWest Short Line as a replacement. Check their website, they offer both tapered and ‘shouldered’ (the type you’ll need) wheelsets in just about every gauge and size imaginable. If yours is an HO scale bobber, I’d think 33" shouldered would do the trick.

Tom