I purchased some metal wheels made by Model Power for HO scale. The seem nice, good dark color. But there maybe a problem. At the moment they seem to work fine, just want to make sure I am not missing anything.
When I went to install them, I noticed they had a much shorter axle length than the others. (Compareing them to Intermountain and Athern standards) They seem to float around quite a bit. of course, I wonder if this could be a good thing as the axles would adjust easier to the track. Also, they seem to roll fine.
Anywys, looking for opionons on this or if this might be kinda common.
Best Regards
John k
Not only are there various wheel sizes, there are also various axle lengths,
somewhere in the area of 40, according to www.reboxx.com a leading after market
manufacturer.
According to master wheel mechanic nfmisso, P2K measure 1.008, IM 1.013 and
KD 1.018 etc etc.
Well, I went back and played with it again and those wheels inside typical Athearn blue box trucks there seem to be over …070 to .090 of direct side to side play. That seems to be an awful lot. I am useing these wheels on cars that I am selling at the LHS after I weather them. I am just not getting a “good feeling” about that much play. Am I right on the feelings or am I am being to much of a fussy about it.
Thanks
You do not want more than .010" of side to side play, and I prefer a great deal less.
I use P2K, IM, and Branchline (same axle length as Kadee) now, (different axle lengths) for replacements.
Branchline/Kadee seem to work well in Bowser. IM in most Athearn, though some are P2K and some are Branchline/Kadee. Walthers cars are all over the map.
Recently on some Ertl cars, I used a “tool” (see reboxx’s website) to ream the trucks out so that P2K wheel fit nicely. The Ertl axles were also very short.
The trucks swivelling should be where the compliance is, not the axles in the trucks.
I really cannot comment on that ,I have some metal axels on some of my rolling stock that’s seem to run o.k. btw those metal axels have plastic wheels on them that I’am planning on changing them soon.
Thanks Nigel, you confirmed my fears. It just didnt seem right to me. Oh well, maybe I cam put them on some of my “sitting” rolloing stock. I have some peices that dont get moved much. Oh well. They were cheap. Made more $$$ mistakes thats for sure
Best Regards
John k
i Thin model power might have there own ,thing so i cant be inerchanged ,but just a thought
carl… Btw nice to see ya john
According to the fellow who designed the Tool and the ReBoxx wheels, most manufacturers prefer to have the axles too short than too long. You should measure the axles that come out of the trucks and look for equivalent length replacements. I just replaced a set, though, where the replacements were a millimeter longer than the originals, but the new ones fit exactly.
I’m trying to get everything to match to the Tool, which is 25.9 mm (mine is).
Too short axles mean that the car leans or wobbles from side to side.
Well, talked ot a few of my local modeler freind sher ein town and they fell for the Model Power Wheels too. They had the exact smae problem. Maybe yoru right Carl. Only explantion I can think of. I will keep them around in case I come across a kit with a tight truck. for 2.50 a pack, I would spend more in gas going back to the hobby store to return them Argh![banghead] I bit the bullet and went in with a freind to buy a bunch of P2K wheels. I have used them before and worked great.
Oh well, it was atleast it was cheaper than alot of my other mistakes.[:I]
And Carl, likewise, good see you too.
I have been seeing you alot more lately on the board. Do you have the same issue I do? Hotter then snot in the garage so your post count is going up? [:D]
Best Regards
John