If the metal wheels are machined on the axle, isn’t there a dead short between both wheels? and if so, how do they run better on the trucks. This is a DCC question from a guy new to HO modeling
For metal wheels and axles, look at your axles where they meet the wheel. One side will have a plastic bushing usually black. Wheels are press fit on the axles. BTW for metal trucks both insulated ends need to be on the same side.
Paul
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New to HO so all the cars are plastic wheels and run okay on DCC, Reviewing old forum updates, many recommend switching to all Metal wheels, hence the question, it looks like metal wheels would create a direct short. I didn’t realize that there were insulating bushings. Thanks for the quick response
Are Reboxx wheelsets a thing of the past?
It’s hard to say – we had a thread about Reboxx starting in 2018 that indicated the box and wheelset business was moribund by pandemic time in 2020. On the other hand, the Web site is currently accessible (and not up for sale by some domain service people) and their contact form appears to be working.
Note that Intermountain is frequently mentioned as a metal-wheelset provider…
Yes, Reboxx is gone, and for the most part Intermountain is better. Reboxx only sold semi scale code 88 wheelsets. There are good arrangements for and against semi scale wheels.
And while the selection of axle lengths was a sometimes useful feature, it was later established that some of their recommended lengths were incorrect.
I can post more on this later if you have any interest.
Additionally, there was a time when metal wheelsets in metal sprung trucks was the standard in HO and they still exist today. Yes one or both wheels are insulated from the axle. I still run metal sprung/equalized trucks on most of my equipment.
Sheldon
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If you search “Code 88 HO wheels” and “Code 110 HO wheels” you will find a variety of suppliers and most of them are producing good quality hardware. 88 and 110 refer to the width of the wheel, .088" and .110". They are offered in both 33" and 36" scale diameters and are occasionally found in 28". The axles can be insulated metal or sometimes some kind of plastic. If you search “HO freight car trucks” or “HO passenger trucks” there is quite a variety available. Most are sold with appropriate wheelsets included but some are not,
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