P2K Locomotive wheelset replacement ??

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Does anyone know of a decent nickel-silver replacement wheelset for Proto 2000 GP7s ?

My stock wheelsets continue to accumulate dirt like magnets, whereas Atlas units seem more resilient, and maintain better contact.

Thanks,
Nick

2

You might find an answer to your question burried in this thread

3

Surprised you have that problem with P2K. May I suggest you clean your track and wheels with MAAS, a 2 oz metal silver cleaner paste or automotive polishing compound if you have some in the garage Otherwise go to
www.nwsl.com

4

I’ve repeatedly heard that NWSL wheels are the top recommended replacement wheels for the popular HO brands.

I have a P2K GP9 that I run often on my shelf track. Unlike my Athearn BB units, it accumulates very little grime.

The only wheel sets I’m changing out are on my Athearn Blue Box FP45s and U-Boats. The sintered wheels give excellent traction but suck up dirt like a magnet.

One thing to consider:

If your freight and/or passenger cars have plastic wheels, then that VERY LIKELY could be the reason for dirty or grimy locomotive wheels. Plastic wheels deposit black gunk on the rails whether brass or nickel silver. Even Atlas and Stewart locomotive wheels will eventually be coated with the stuff.

IMHO, metal wheels are the way to go for ALL freight and passenger cars in HO and N scales.

Just my [2c]

Cheers!

5

The early P2K units uses sintered iron wheels like Athearn. Nickle-silver replacements will give better pickup, less dirst, and slightly less pulling power. Thankfully, they changed somewhere along the line.
NWSL is probably the best source. The P2K design is a clone of Athearn’s, so they should fit. Or maybe they have P2K specific replacements, I haven’t looked.

–Randy

6

Please read the other thread about plastic wheel sets about where the dirt comes from!

7

Telephone LifeLike in Baltimore, explain what you have, and they will probably send you new nickel-silver replacement wheels for free.

8

Rrinker,

Thanks for that info. I wasn’t aware that some of the early P2K’s had the Athearn styled sintered wheels. I’m glad that later units were equipped with nickel silver wheels.

9

How can you tell which is which? Is there a visible difference? Does Life-Like has a referrence chart based on what loco you have?

Thanks–Jon - Las Vegas

10

Any idea what model year LL made the change over?
I have their older P2K E7’s & PA’s

11

If the wheels are shiny and black or silver when clean, they’re nickel-silver. If they’re grey and not shiny when clean, they’re sintered iron.

12

What Willy said. Look at them up close, or even with a magnifier. It’s pretty easy to tell the difference when you see them up close. A sintered wheel is made by pressing powdered metal in a mold, it never has the smooth even finish of a plated or turned piece of metal. Those little imperfection make it grip the rails better for more pulling power, but they collect the dirt like crazy.

–Randy

13

Locomotive3,

Most of the E units I’ve seen have the nickel silver wheels. My E units are 1998 runs and are nickel silver.

14

THANKS!