does anyone know what brand of wheels athearn uses or a good replacement wheel i bought some proto 2000 wheels and the axel was 2 wide
I’ve heard this from several modelers who have attempted to retrofit metal wheel sets into the newer Athearn trucks. I would check with Intermountain for wheelsets–I think they make a narrower axle end, and I would also see about getting a ‘Truck-Tuner’ mechanism, that can usually be gotten through either Walthers or Micromark. The Tuner has a router on one end, and fits right into the inside of the truck and reams out the holes with one or two twists. The router is only on one side of the mechanism, so you have to reverse it, but it works really well. I’ve used this on some of my cars with tight wheelsets, and it’s a real Godsend.
Other than that, the only thing I could think of would be to replace the Athearn trucks with either Proto or Intermountain trucks.
Tom
I have replaced all the plastic wheel sets on my rolling stock (be it Athearn or otherwise) with metal wheels…really makes a difference in keeping the track clean. Usually I buy what is on sale (and usually from the Walthers flyer). I’ve had no trouble with either Proto 2000 or Kadee wheel sets. On my 19th century cars I have also used Branchline wheel sets…again with no problems. The suggestion to obtain/use the Truck-Tuner is a good one (located in the Micro Mark catalog). I would also recommend the use of an NMRA-approved gauge. Cheers!
Intermountain axles are .010" longer than P2Ks. 1.012" compared to 1.002". The IM’s are MUCH better wheels. I would recommend using them and a truck tuning tool to make them fit.
There is a company called Reboxx that sells wheelsets with different axle lengths. They have an application chart at http://www.reboxx.com/Documents/Wheelsets/33%20Application%20Chart.pdf
If you look at the Athearn section of the chart, it appears that all the Athearn axles are about the same length with the exception of the 70 ton roller bearing truck found on the ready to roll cars. They don’t exactly specify what axle is used with the Genesis cars, but I’m assuming this isn’t what you have. For some reason, the axle length on the Athearn 70T roller bearing is shorter than the usual length, so if this is what you have that might be why there is a problem.
Anyhow, you can look at that chart and compare all the available flavors.
Regarding the recommendations about the truck tuning tool, yes it is a good tool to have when used for it’s specified purpose. And that purpose, as mentioned on the Reboxx site, is that it “forms a clean 60 degree conical side frame journal to the NMRA standard. Dirt, paint and manufacturing debris (are) removed.” A picture of a tool similar to what they’re talking about is also at the Reboxx site, http://www.reboxx.com/wheelsets.htm. You can see that the sharp edge of the tool runs parallel along the tapered edge. I don’t believe that it was designed to dig a deeper hole.
Anyway, that’s my opinion!
Maxman-Thanks a bunch for that application chart link! I didn’t know they had one.[tup]
You’re most certainly welcome. That company sometimes attends the bigger train shows. They normally have those application charts there as handouts, but it is just as easy to print a copy from their site.
Loathar, maxman is right in that the truck tuner /“Tool” does not make the journal hole deeper. It just smooths it out and gives it the proper contour. It will improve the rolling qualities of any truck with plastic sideframes. I can strongly recommend the Reboxx replacement wheelsets, especially the “semi-scale” .088" tread width sets. Smooth rolling, excellent looks, no problems with tracking. By matching the correct axle length, and using the truck tuning tool, you get the absolute maximum performance.
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im replacing one of my athearn ready to roll bethgon coalporter cars because 4 some reaon the wheel on the last car wasnt insulated and was shorting out my engines but thanks 4 the info i know that athearn uses RP25