I'm thinking about buying a bunch of Roundhouse hoppers. I'm wondering how good their trucks are? Should I use Kadee or Intermountain wheelsets in them? Which one would fit better? Or would I be better off to scrap them and replace them completely with Kadee trucks? How about with Walthers cars? In the Walthers ore cars I have Kadee wheelsets aren't working good at all. They bind up and don't roll smoothly. Would Intermountain fit and roll better, or should I just scrap the trucks and put in Kadees? I know there are a lot of preferences out there, and a lot of experience as well. What does everyone think?? Mark
I test complete wheel sets by SPINING the wheel with my index finger and with a watch count off the seconds until the wheel comes to a stop. This tells me how free rolling they are. I have not tried the intermountain with ball bearings(too expensive) The Kato truck set,$5.50 spins for 16 seconds and the kadee truck sets for 9 seconds. You can also just buy the wheel sets like proto at a moderate price. First & foremost, there are 33" & 36" wheels so when you upgrade, use the same size.
I test my complete wheel sets by SPINNING the wheel with my index finger. This procedure tells me how free rolling the wheels are. The most expensive set $14.50 by intermountain I have not tried. I use Kato truck wheels sets for $5.50 and they spin for 16 seconds, then kadee truck wheel sets for 9 seconds(these are on my kadee freight cars) Lifelike sells wheel sets at a moderate price. Remember, there are 33" & 36" wheels so when you upgrade use the SAME size.
I've found Kaydee wheels work on Walthers, Atherns & Ertl cars. Proto 2000 work on many IHC freight but Intermountain are superior. Take care, Jim
I agree with Jim, Intermountain wheels are the best value for money, ($52 per 100 axles @ model train works). I have had experience with Kadee wheels wearing the points off the axles, that was after running 3 days at a show, not good. The 28" wheels are very good also ! Works for me.
I take it that the Intermountain axles are metal, compared to the plastic axles on Kadee? Are they just insulated then on one end? That would make it good to be able to pick up power if you have metal trucks. Something to think about.... I can get Kadee 520's (33" freight smooth back) at Toy Train Heaven for $4.95 a dozen, which works out to about $42/100. The Kadee 500's (Betnedorf trucks) are $3.95/pr. Replacing just the wheels is definately cheaper, but I've never had problems with derailment with Kadee trucks. Mark
<font color="336633">I have always used Kadee wheels on everything I have replaced most Athearn trucks with Kadee ones, I found that walthers roller baring trucks and kaydee wheels are great together not to free rolling so they roll away on a slight grade (had a rather embarrasing moment at a train show when a P2K covered hopped rolled down onto a main line ), I havnt tryed any of the bettendorf walthers ones, as for the mdc trucks they are al little tight in the axle boxes but a little bit of carful bending of the frames and some kadee greese em they are ok. The only cars that have their origonal wheels are P2K ones, although I will be changing over to Proto 87 soon.....</font> [ 30 July 2001: Message edited by: StickyMonk ]</p>
Anyone here have any unused Athearn or MDC trucks???? I'd interested in a trade for them of some sort if anyone has any......E-mail me with any and or what you'd be looking in for a trade.... My E-mail address is: yellowstone10@hotmail.com I'll be in touch with anyone on the matter ASAP. I'm repairing some old cars I got in a buy from a sale I went to and I am in need of some trucks that I do not have..... Just the basics for me. THANKS in advanced...
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 7600EM_1: Anyone here have any unused Athearn or MDC trucks???? <hr></blockquote> <font color="336633">Sorry, all my old trucks and plastic wheels went for recycleing</font>
I've used just about every wheel and truck combination out there. They all have good points and bad points. Here are some findings. The best rolling truck; Kato (will roll away on track you thought was level) The best wheelset; NWSL (never had one out round, or out of gauge) The best for the money; Intermountain (the steel axles can be a problem sometimes) The cheapest metal wheelset; P2k (not the best, but usable) The worst wheelset (excluding one piece cast toy ones); Walthers (never stay in gauge long) Lately, I have been using Intermountain wheels. I haven't had too many bad ones. The last JB (is this 'Just Barely' abbreviated?) wheels were mostly out of round (like about 30% of them). I don't think I will be buying these again. The ones from p2k seem to have gotten worse than the first ones out (lots of out of rounds, but generally in gauge). I use NWSL on longer cars like passenger and autoracks (they seem to glide better than the others).... anyway, just my thoughts. [ 31 July 2001: Message edited by: foamrr ]</p>
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by StickyMonk: <font color="336633">Sorry, all my old trucks and plastic wheels went for recycleing</font><hr></blockquote> THANKS! though I sure appreciate the concern...
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Mark_Athay: compared to the plastic axles on Kadee <hr></blockquote> Kadee axles are metal
IMHO, most HO freight car trucks can be made free rolling using a tool my train shop sold me. It's called "the tool" and it was almost $10 but turned out to be the best money I ever spent. You remove the needlepoint axles from your trucks and insert this tool and turn it to insure that each axle opening is uniform and free from flash. It's made by INDUSTRIAL MACHINE AND TOOL CO. of Missouri. This tool makes it obviously clear that most of my trucks will free roll with any axle. It also appears to me that there may be a standard in use for the width of the axle from point to point
Six-axle, are you talking about reaming the pocket on plastic side frame, or metal side frame trucks? I haven't seen "The Tool", can you post a photo of it?
"The Tool" sounds like a great $10 investment. I never seen or heard of it but I bet if I see one I'll be buyin 1 or 2!!!! One for my shop and one for in the tool chest for the shows durring repairs at shows and all.....
The tool looks exactly like an axle itself except it is larger in diameter (about a 1/4 inch) and one end has a flute machine into it, much like a drill bit. When I use it, I turn it until it has no resistance. It appears to me that it would be difficult to over cut by design. The only info on the bag reads Industrial Machine & Tool Company, 3812 Bennington, Kansas City, Missouri, 64129 I hope that helps.
Get the October issue of Model Railroader and turn to page 51 in the top left corner. The "Exact Socket" toll. It looks to be a dead ringer for the one I bought locally. By design, it won't increase side to side movement but it sure does make 'em roll. Once you do all your rolling stock, it makes it easy to find the bum wheelsets. I have found that the athearn and proto wheels seem to be in batches, some true some not
It appears that Kato makes some very good trucks from the feedback. I've never used them or even seen them in my local shop. Are the truck side frames metal or Delrin/plastic like the Walthers, LBF and Athearns? I like the metal trucks from Kadee, but wouldn't mind finding something better. I cringe at the Delrin axles on the Kadee wheelsets, but so far they haven't given me any problems unless I abuse them. I have melted them by mistake..... I do know they work a lot better than the plastic wheelsets that my cars come with! Mark
Mark, I would definitely try that axle tool before you spend the money on wheelsets. You will be amazed at how free rolling and smooth running the athearn, MDC, and accurail wheels roll . Aside from a more realistic appearance, the aftermarket wheels don't make any difference in performance. The metal wheels are louder, though.
Kato make a a roller bearing truck,#31-602, MSP$6.00 & A.S.F. control truck, #31-601 MSP$5.00 Shop for discounts. Superior free rolling, but if you are spotting or humping cars in a yard,there will be TOO much roll. In my case I don't there-fore , I have doubled the # of cars I can haul .
