I was wondering if all large scale trucks and or wheels are about the same size( trucks) diameter(wheels). If they do differ are aristo 1:29 Lgb 1:20 Bach 1:22 and so on?
Matt i was just tring to find out the same thing.
Matt
The same guy I bought my 2nd hand trains though advised me on my rolling stock that he used only Bman steel wheels.
He said he found them to be the “nice size.”
There is generally no difference in the size of wheels between the various “scales” of rolling stock. I have been able to change from plastic to metal wheelsets using different brands of wheels on different brands of rolling stock with no problems except when it came to installing ball bearing adapters. Some brands of replacement wheelsets have larger diameter axles than others, and the bearings would not fit, so I had to switch to a different brand of wheelset. Generally, Bachmann or AristoCraft wheels will fit nearly everything. The only exception I encountered was on a Bachmann caboose, whose wheels are a smaller diameter than other Bachmann products. Bachmann replacement G-scale wheelsets come in two different diameters. The ones marked as “large” fit nearly everything, and the “small” fit their caboose.
Bluebonnet - 71 I do intend to use steel wheels. But after looking at a few manufacture web sites I believe I would use Aristocraft due to their Archbar trucks.
cacole- As noted above i like the idea of being able to install roller bearings. Found a web site that showed how to install them and showed what they look
like. Upon seeing them I wonder if a cheaper alternative for bearings could be
found. If i remember correctly $ 23.00 U.S. for a set. Not sure if thats for one truck or two. The bearings due resemble those on router bits that I have . Many stores that deal in woodworking equipment sell just the bearings in various sizes.
Those ball bearing prices are usually for a lot of 10, or enough to convert one 4-axle car with 2 left over. I converted as many pieces of my rolling stock as I could, and the difference in rolling qualities is really amazing. I have two boxcars with 5Ah Gel-cell batteries in them that did not roll very well because of their weight. After I put ball bearing adapters in their trucks, just a very light push will cause one to roll almost halfway around my layout, and then roll back and forth until it settles in the lowest elevation on the layout. They are well worth the expense. I purchased mine from Great Big Trains in Aurora, Colorado. See page 44 of the August 2004 issue of Garden Railways for his advertisement. If you can provide him with the brand name and number of cars you need to convert, he sends you the necessary amount of bearings. They come in two sizes, so he needs to know what you are converting.
Thanks Cacole, While I’m thinking about it do you know of anyone who sells cabooes trucks like on the bobbers? With metal wheels.
Afraid I can’t help you with the bobber caboose question – the Bachmann caboose I have is a 4-axle jobbie with interior lights and marker lights. Since I’m running on battery power, I removed the wipers and wiring from the caboose and installed a Radio Shack 9.6 Volt race car NiCad battery pack with an on/off toggle switch and charging jack.
Cacole,
It sounds as though the bearings you’re talking about are in addition to the existing wheels, where are the bearings installed, in the truck journals? I thought that ball bearing steel wheels had the wheel pressed onto the outer race of the bearing and that the original wheel set gets discarded.
Walt
Grandpopswalt- the bearing go into the trucks where the plastic bushings are…on Arisocraft trucks anyway, you remove the plastic bushing and press the bearing in with your fingers.
Matt,
Thanks for the info. I wonder if the journals on the Bachmann trucks can be drilled out to accept the bearings.
Walt
Grandpopswalts - I don’t know, I look for the link to some guys site that showed him installing them in Aristo trucks but couldn’t figure out how I got there.[:(]
Grandpopswalt, Here’s the link www.largescalecentral.com/articles/php?
Then click on articles at the top of your screen and it will bring up a list, look for project#1 by Larry Cooper it was at the very bottom of the page.
Matt,
Thanks for all the information. I went to Largescalecentral website as you suggested and now I see exactly what you meant.
Thanks again
Walt
I simply used a DeWalt battery drill to enlarge the bearing opening in the side truck frames, since they were all plastic. You just have to be careful that you don’t drill too far through. The ball bearing adapters required that the hole be enlarged for a depth of only about 1/8 inch.
Cacole, Are you saying you did this to bachmann wheel sets, If so did you just inlarge the journels to accept the bearing and reuse the bachmann metal wheels?