Large Scale Central

Metal Wheel sets

General Discussion
#1

Can anyone tell who I can contact to purchase Metal wheels sets in bulk at a price less than $6.00 an axle? I am working on a project for the Museum I work for and I am in need of 140 Metal wheel sets, which is enough to make 70 trucks. I have seen one posting on evailbay for 20 wheels set for 119.95 which would only do 10 trucks. At that price it would be almost $900.00 just for the wheels. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

#2

You can find Bachmann wheels for between $3 - $4 per axle if you look around.

Sierra Valley sells sets of 4 axles for $17.

I use the Bachmann on much of my stuff, but the SV wheels are VERY highly regarded.

Later,

K

#3

Not exactly an answer on price but a “tip”. Kevin is right, the SV wheels (ebay ones) are very highly regarded. I use both SV and Bachmann, I have dozens of cars equipped with each. If you are running indoors (museum?) the Bachmann wheels are noisy! Metal wheels typically generate more noise but the SV are much quieter than the Bachmann (and as you noted, much more expensive).

#4

The Bachmann are cast, and I believe the SV are cnc machined.

You will get a certain percentage of the Bachmann that wobble, and the casting surface is by it’s very nature, rougher, thus more noisy.

Greg

#5

I like noisy wheels. Having spent many hours trackside, I can say the Bachmann wheels are much quieter than the real thing.
After all, our models do not carry the “weight” real trains do.
Ralph

#6
Ralph Berg said:
I like noisy wheels. Having spent many hours trackside, I can say the Bachmann wheels are much quieter than the real thing. After all, our models do not carry the "weight" real trains do. Ralph
Ralph, I respectfully disagree. If you heard the long heavy train of Bachmann 3-bay hoppers (the old 1:22.5 ones) you would be deafened by the roar from those cast surfaces!
#7
Dan Stuettgen said:
Can anyone tell who I can contact to purchase Metal wheels sets in bulk at a price less than $6.00 an axle?
Dan,

The Accucraft EStore lists a box of 24 pkgs of 2 axles each (48 axles by my count) for $200. That’s only $4.16666 per axle. http://www.accucraftestore.com/index.php?productID=1100
(I’ll sell you my 40 for $3.50 per axle!)