Help finding wheel sets

purple1 Feb 16, 2022

  1. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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    You're probably right it's probably meant to run a 33".
     
  2. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

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    Interesting, on a set of Micro Trains that I just checked I get 0.206" (~5.23 mm) which scales out to 32.96"
     
  3. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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  4. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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  5. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

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    Trainboard limits posting links to retailers that don't support this site:
    POLICY: TrainBoard Posts About Retailers
    (I think the "unmentionable site" is a reference to a particularly popular retailer that a lot of people were posting links to.)
    As an example, I had forgotten about that policy, so when I posted a source for metal wheels, the retailer name got changed to "www.some train store.com":

    Here's a source for the wheels that is a supporter of Trainboard,
    and here's a list of Trainboard supporters.
     
    mtntrainman likes this.
  6. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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    I've got 7 cars of Bachmann to convert to Micro Trains - Wanting to find 10 sets of Trucks with Couplers but there are a million to pick from and I know ride height will matter. I'm also thinking of trying to convert my Bachmann engine myself.
     
  7. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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    I've known for a long time 25mm to the inch roughly but these tiny trains and wheels, I know coupler height is tricky and I'm about to convert 7 cars and maybe my engine (n)
     
  8. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    If someone can visually see the difference between an N scale 31" or 32" or 33" wheel...their eyes are a heck of a lot better then most of us. That and they have way to much time on their hands worring about such miniscule things....JMO :LOL::LOL::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::whistle:

    .
     
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  9. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    I hear what you're saying, but I find that there is a considerable visual difference between a 33" and 36" in wheel in N scale.
     
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  10. pmpexpress

    pmpexpress TrainBoard Member

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    While steam and transition era rail cars rode on 33" wheels (i.e., with the exception of 50' express reefers and passenger cars), as a general rule of thumb, modern freight rolling-stock with 100-ton trucks (e.g., container well cars, 100-ton hopper cars, 60' log cars, and 20k -30k+ tank cars) ride on 36" wheels, while older or lighter freight stock with 70-ton trucks ride on 33" wheels.

    The wheel size is congruent with the loaded car weight.

    Your Poe cars were factory fitted with 100-ton Barber Roller bearing trucks and should have 36" wheels.

    Older Bachmann cars shipped with Bettendorf trucks would be fitted with 33" wheels.

    Post 2000 Bachmann cars are typically shipped with 100-ton Barber Roller Bearing trucks with 36" wheels.
     
    Christopher Lee likes this.
  11. pmpexpress

    pmpexpress TrainBoard Member

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    The Tangent 33" wheel-sets are currently out of stock at all of the major online vendor sites.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2022
  12. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    While there is a 3" difference between an n scale 33" and a 36" wheel that 'may be' noticeable to some with the naked eye. The 1" difference between an n scale wheel that measures 32.96" and one that measures 33" I dont think can be seen with the naked eye by maybe a handful of people on the entire planet. JMHO....:p:whistle:

    .
     
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  13. pmpexpress

    pmpexpress TrainBoard Member

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    What types of Bachmann cars are you trying to convert?

    If they are 40' - 50' in length and/or have roofwalks in the case of boxcars and stock cars, Micro-Trains 1000 Bettendorf trucks with short shank couplers are the way to go.

    Micro-Trains 1030 Roller Bearing trucks with short shank couplers should be installed if you are planning on using your Bachmann cars to model a contemporary, post 1994 era.

    Micro-Trains 1035 (with short shank couplers) or 1037 (with medium shank couplers) Barber Roller Bearing trucks should be used with modern 100-ton rolling-stock.

    Although Micro-Trains 1128 (with short shank) and 1129 (with medium shank) Universal "T" Shank Couplers can be used to modify almost any locomotive that was factory fitted with "T "Shank Rapido Couplers, over the years, Kadee Micro-Trains and Micro-Trains Line have marketed complete conversion kits for select Bachmann models.
     
    Christopher Lee likes this.
  14. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    You mean it doesn't change to "woo woo woo" any more? I am very disappointed. :ROFLMAO:

    More on topic, the subject of scaling wheels is actually not new. I am stuck in 1969 on my copy of the Model Railroader back issues DVD and even then they had the calipers and the micrometer out for their reviews of N Scale rolling stock. If you're keeping score, by the way, in January 1969 MR reviewed Kemtron Code 40 track! So no excuses for using Code 80, people... ;)
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  15. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    Have to agree to disagree then. I suspect that, once someone starts dabbling with replacement wheelsets, they would start to notice the difference. It becomes especially apparent on certain cars like covered hoppers or tank cars, where the wheel profile is far more visible than when tucked under, say, a boxcar. All this said, some N scale cars were made with 33" wheels in mind and 36" wheels might make them ride too high or vice-versa. I think the visual difference is much more apparent than you may realize.

    Also, something to keep in mind, I recall putting 33" wheels in trucks designed for 36" wheels once, probably by accident, and the bottom of the sideframes were contacting and dragging on the railhead. It's been a while since this happened and I can't recall the brands involved, but this is something to consider.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2022
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  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    You can certainly PM each other to pass along that retailer's name. :)
     

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