What Internet hobby shop is the best place to ourchase 33" metal wheels for HO rolling stock? And what is the best brand to buy that won’t empty my wallet?
GGB
Just go to ebay. 100 wheelsets for $30! Thats a good deal. Other variations available.
Brand - depends, what axle length are you looking for?
See: http://www.reboxx.com/wheelsets.htm but there are known errors in these charts.
You will also need a tool like this one: http://www.reboxx.com/Tools.htm Micro Mark and others offers similar tools.
A caliper is an extremely useful tool for measuring the axle lengths
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257
I use a mixture of Proto 2000, Internountain, Kadee and Branchline so far for replacement wheelsets. These have different axle lengths. An application that works well with P2K will be bound up with Kadee or Branchline unless additional work is done with the tool above. An application that works well with Kadee or Branchline, will allow P2K axles to fall out.
Life-Like Proto 2000s are probably the least expensive. I prefer Intermountain wheels because:
- Metal wheels and axles.
- Thinner, more realistic wheel treads.
- They only cost about a dollar more.
Thank you all for responding. It looks liket Life-Like Proto 2000s is what I’m after.
GGB
Discount Trains Online is a very respectable Online dealer who provides excellent customer service if you encounter any problems. I am not for sure which brand is the best; I have tried many different brands. Athearn Genesis makes some of your better truck and wheel combinations, Life-Like makes a good set of 12 wheels for about $8.00, Walthers makes some metal wheels, and many other companies make metal wheels also.
Thank you Railfan. You offer good info.
GGB
Don’t know much about suppliers, but I won’t buy P2K wheels after the last ones literally flaked apart on me, so I’m going to suggest Intermountain because that’s what all of my rolling stock is equipped with. Oh yeah, on the caliper–go ahead and go to Sears or another tool store for a better one. Harbor Freight measuring tools have a tendency to show a different length if you measure the same thing twice, and hardly ever go back to zero when closed.
Greg
METAL WHEELS are an improvement over plastic, but axle points revolving in plastic sideframes are where ‘rolling quaity’ lies. The best metal wheels are the ‘heaviest’ ones, since they add more unsprung weight.
CAVEATS: With all of our ‘pre-assembled’ products being made overseas, we are seeing non-NMRA conforming products showing up - to reduce cost / increase profit by selling to those who put dollars first.
Most Exceptions such as NWSL, JAYBEE, and INTERMOUNTAIN, cost more.
Now the question becomes Do you care?
(I have not included KD and P2K as they use plastic axles).
Try using Intermountain metal wheels they are the best wheels you can find. You can find them on intermountain.com[:)][:)]
Tom’s Trains www.tomstrains.com is usually where you can get a good deal on Intermountain wheels.
Thank you all for the sage advice. I’ll certainly look into Intermountain wheels.
GGB