I received my WOT cars a while back and just got some time to open the box and look at them. I was surprised to see these cars had plastic wheels especially for the price I paid for them. I don't have a micrometer yet so what size FVW will fit these cars? I not only need to know the diameter of the wheel but the length of the shaft since FVW makes them in three different lengths and two different diameters. Thanks for any help you can render on the subject.
The plastic wheelsets are from IM, and are 36" wheels. You want the .553" axles. http://www.featherrivertrains.com/c...=detail.htm&t=main.detail.htm&itemid=FVM-3602 Those are out of stock at FRT, but the 100 packs are in stock.
I had my kind of guessing game with the wheels. The four-wheel trucks of my Lackawanna Baggage-Express car worked fine, and I left them untouched. The six-wheel trucks of the ACL Baggage-Express car were a plain mess. The car was not running at all. First I exchanged the plastic wheels with Intermountain 36" metal wheels that were at hand, but their axles seemed still too short and almost fell out of the trucks. Later I tried the Fox Valley 3603 wheel sets and they fit not great, but okay. Good that I bought "a set of everything" to test Fox Valley wheels, otherwise I would not have 3603's. Now I am waiting for delivery of my two special two-car sets, and whether the six-wheel trucks are working better there. Who knows what brand these trucks are? Are these a special WoT development? Apart from the wheel problems, they seem to be quite nice.
Oh great, you mean that different cars of WOT has different length axels? What kind of standards are those? I haven't checked them on the track but now I will have to pull each one out of the box and see how they perform and besides I don't care for plastic wheels.
Yes definitely check how they run, my 6 wheel truck ACL goes down the track like a bucking bronco so I will definitely be purchasing the FVM wheels, great shame considering the price.
bob: Check my website below. I discuss the different size FVM axles and on which manufacturer's to use them on.
I should add that my 6 wheel truck ACL is even with FVM 3603 not completely free running. But it is running quite good, and this is a huge improvement I am reluctant to modify the 4 wheel trucks because they work well, but probably curiosity will win...
Bob, Does this mean you changed all your trucks on your WOT passenger cars to Micro-Trains with 33" FVW wheels?
Bob: I will change the wheel sets to 36" FVM metal wheel sets using the existing trucks. All my rolling stock is packed away for my move. When I get to Texas, I'll make the exchange. Right now all modeling is in limbo. I have all the SP Harriman cars that they issued including an extra set of baggage cars. You can have too many baggage cars. Hopefully those trucks will take the 36 " FVM wheel sets. Some folks have used the 36" FVM wheel sets on the Harriman cars without an issue.
I have received the latest baggage cars from WOT and they operate flawlessly. I haven't had any problems with prior releases either. You might want to check your track for gauge, cross level and smooth joints. Barry
The problem seems to be with the six wheel truck, my four wheel truck cars are fine. I have emailed Matthew to see if there are any plans for an upgraded truck we can retro fit.
The problem is not the track, but the wheels were not turning freely. Now with FVM it is better, but not perfect. Are the 6 wheel trucks a new design?
