Help - metal wheels on Walthers ore jennies

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’d like to start putting metal wheels on my Walthers ore jennies, but I have a friend who says that while some wheelsets fit in the sideframes, the cars just don’t roll any better. He’s reamed the sideframes and added graphite. The axles aren’t tight, they just don’t spin as freely as on other cars.

Has anyone successfully made the ore jennies roll better with metal wheels? Which brand did you use?

Thanks for all help,

jcopilot

2

Hi Jcopilot: My Walthers jennies came with metal wheels and roll like hot butter off a kniff. You might try using the Walthers metal wheel sets. Try a set on one car and see how it does. I’ve heard that the early jennies came with plastic wheels. I got mine cars last year when they had the sale on 4 packs.

3

Hi Paul,

Yeah, all of my jennies have plastic wheels and they are s - l - o - o - o - w. I’ll get some Walthers wheels and see if they help.

Thanks,

jcopilot

4

btt

5

jcopilot,

I’ve installed BranchLine 33" wheels on my ore jennies and they work just fine. I’ve converted 48 ore cars to the metal wheels without any problems.

Don Z.

6

flat out change the trucks.