I have been upgrading to replacement wheels on on my freight and other cars on my layout and have been using the Intermountain. Dollar for dollar doing the up grade really makes a difference the way the cars track and they really roll allot better, I know allot of people still us the standard plastic ones and have good luck with them, I still got quite a few that are still on there there plastic wheels and will up grade them at a later date. There is Kadde, Jaybee and allot of other brands out there as far as aftermarket wheels.
Which ones do you members like the best and use, and which ones seem the most flexible to use and install on all kinds of different manufactured cars?[:I]
Intermountain or Proto 2000 are excellent as replacements for 33 and 36 inch wheelsets on most products. I have also had very favorable results with LBF wheelsets in both 33 and 36 inch. I think LBF wheelsets are the best in many respects.
If the entire truck needs to be replaced I use Proto 2000, Kato, or Atlas.
Most of my 300+ cars ride on Kadee wheels and most of them are in Kadee sprung trucks. A few are in cheaper plastic sprung trucks (Atlas, I think). I also use a Dremel tool with a wire bru***o remove the paint from the treads of the wheels. This gives a slightly more prototypical appearance. There are zero plastic wheels on my railroad.
I use Kadee 36" smoothback for my pax cars right now, but will eventually go to Intermountains. One thing that I cannot recommend highly enough is a truck tuning tool. There is a lot of junk in those trucks and “The Tool” gives the proper contour. You will be able to pull more cars with less stress on you locos. It is probably the best ten bucks I have ever spent.
I like the Atlas metal trucks the best, the Kadee’s aren’t too good because of those springs that can cause problems when they pop out of place, Kato makes a barber S-2 truck and they are ok but I’ve had a hard time finding them lately…never used inter- mountain before…chuck
i’ve been replacing plastic wheels with the P2K 33" ribbed back wheels , they look great and do help even on brand new rolling stock . i usually buy a package every time i’m at the LHS , that way it’s not a huge expense all at once and i don’t realize that it’s costing me an extra $3 a car (canadian prices!) to do the upgrade
Proto metal wheelsets. They don’t come in different axle lengths, but I find it easier to modify or replace truck sideframes to suit one type of axle length, than it is to have 29 different axle lengths running around, and always running out of the one length you really need!
Intermountain is mainly the wheels that I was guided to by a fellow club mate, but I also found a simular design wheel by Northwest Shortline. But Northwest (if I can remember) are about the same price if not cheeper. I’ve enjoyed them both.
I like the Intermountain metal wheels. The wheels and axles are both metal. I spun an Intermountain axle in an Athearn car yesterday, and it spun for 40 seconds![:O][:D]
I have Kadees in a couple of my passenger cars because it’s the only brand of 36" wheels I could find at my LHS. The wheels are metal with a black coating, but the axles are plastic. The P2K axles are also plastic.
Out of all the wheel sets I know of, I’d recommend the Intermountains, because they roll unbelievably well!![:D][:D][:D]
A truck tuning tool can remedy that problem if the axles are too “long”. I have never come across an axle that was too short. What I notice more than anything is a difference in contour on the ends of the axles.
I use the Proto 2000 wheels, and they work very well, and I am pleased with them. Of course, they are the only “aftermarket” wheels I have ever used, so that may have something to go with it. [:D]
If I’m replacing trucks, I get the Micro Trains. (I’m in N scale) If I’m only replacing the wheels, I get the Atlas metal Wheelsets. They’re great for getting rid of those old pizza cutters.
Well it looks like veryone has all got the same idea here, thats great! Never thought about it though, but I am going to get the truck tuning tool, seen them before and always ask myself if I really need that. Sure looks like I do need one. Thanks for the input guys!