ModelRailroadForums.com is a free
Model Railroad Discussion Forum and
photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Before I switched to wheels with metal axles some of my cars would wobble and have a good chance of derailing. I guess because some of the plastic axles were bent and weren't really rolling true. When they encounter any slight abnormality in the track they would derail. You can see the trouble makers, they wobble. I own a lot of Bachman Silver series cars. They come with all metal wheels that's metal axles to. They're the best they all most never derail. I bought a box of 100 Intermountain all metal wheels and put them on all my Athearn cars. They no longer give me any trouble. The Intermountain wheels don't fit Accurail though. I only own a few Accurail cars. As soon as I find a brand of all metal wheels that fit I'll start running them again.
NYC_George
Try getting some Branchline wheels. They're comparable to the Intermountain, and might fit better.
Metal axles
Try getting some Branchline wheels. They're comparable to the Intermountain, and might fit better.
Thank's Josh
I didn't know Branchline had metal axles. I'll take a look. I'm big on this metal axle thing.
NYC_George
Mhmmm, Metal wheels on metal axles. NWSL, Branchline & Intermountain all are.
The Proto 33" wheelsets seem to fit just about everything, including Accurail, and they are pretty reasonably priced.
Grandson of an ALCO Builder
Yeah I like the Proto 2000 wheelsets you can get with flat side or ribbed depending on era of your rolling stock and 2 sizes that I know of 33" & 36".
I use them on all my rolling stock etc...
But you cannot buy them in cheap bulk like the Branchline or IM. And do not come in code 88 tread either, if that matters to you.
Are the metal wheels insulated in some way to prevent shorting?
Yes. They usually have on wheel mounted to a solid rubber ring, so its fully insulated from the metal axle.
One of my new walthers cars has a wheel falling out of the trucks already.
Who makes metal wheels in N scale?
I use Kadee wheels - anyone have anything bad to say about them?
Yes Jeff, the wheel tread is too wide... (I prefer code 88 now, after I used them once).
Actually Kadee wheels are very nice, my only problem is sometimes I forget that a car had Kadee until I start removing them.
I love the IM wheelsets, and Branchline are great as well.
I have some Proto stes, you have to be very careful putting them in so as not to bend the axle.
One thing everyone should have in their toolbox is an axle reamer,
I forget who makes it. Makes a huge differance in how the car rolls!
Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Grandson of an ALCO Builder
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website
(Learn More Here)
