Large Scale Central

Metal Wheels, Bachmann don't fit

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

I’m looking at a way to increase the height of a 1:24 Precision Scale tank car to better match my 1:22.5 rolling stock.

The Precision Scale (PS) wheels are very small. With a tread diameter of about 1.0625".

I use Bachmann metal wheels on most of my cars. According to Greg Elmassian’s website, these have a 1.216" tread diameter.

I’d like to replace the small PS wheels with Bachmann sized wheels. But unfortunately I can’t fit standard Bachmann wheels into the PS trucks.

First, the Bachmann axle length is too long. Should be 2.5". I could probably cut the axle ends to size. But the Bachmann wheels still won’t fit.

Second, the Bachmann wheels have a protrusion from the center of the wheel that extends beyond the wheel face. The PS wheels do not have this protrusion. Because of the protrusion, the Bachmann wheels will not fit between the PS truck. The wheel face should be flat.

The only good thing is the Bachmann axle diameter of 1/8" matches the PS axle diameter and fits perfectly into the PS axle bushing.

If only the Bachmann wheels didn’t have that protrusion.

Here are the wheel dimensions I need to fit into the PS truck:

Tread Diameter: 1.216"

Wheel Thickness: 0.250"

Axle Length: 2.5"

Axle Diameter 0.125"

Photos probably explain the best:

PS Truck:

PS Wheel and truck sideframe:

Bachmann size comparison:

Bachmann protrusion:

Any ideas?

#2

Matt,

If you can find some of the older Bachmann wheels with the plastic hub and metal tire, the plastic hub can be cut down to the face of the tire. I have done it.

Bob C.

#3

Hmm, plastic hub makes me think of LGB metal wheels.

Maybe they’ll fit. Of course expensive experiment if they don’t.

#4

Matt,

That was the purpose of the suggestion for the Bachmann wheels. They are not expensive if the experiment does not work.

Bob

#5

Know anyone with a lathe that could reduce the shoulder (protrusion) or try to do it in a drill press?

#6

I’ve been emailing Gary Raymond and I think his 1:20.3 scale (F26) wheels will work.

A little larger wheel tread then Bachmann, but that’s kind of what I want to do, jack up the tank car height.

#7

Matt…I ran into this with the bachmann and aristos are the same size shoulder …I would be willing to bet that USA’s metal wheels will work as the did for me (not on that same car you have) but looking at the pictures I’m almost positive USA wheels will work(not the passenger cr wheels just the standard ones)

#8

Just for a whim, I cut the protrusions off of some plastic LGB wheels I had. They fit perfectly and the tank is now the exact same height (couplerwise) as an LGB gondola with Bachmann metal wheels.

#9

Matt,

Get hold of Gary Watkins (or I can do it).

His #2 wheel measures 1.083" and the #3 measures 1.192" in diameter and meet the rest of your requirements, but can’t be sure about axle length, either Gary or I can shorten the axles.

Gary Watkins Sierra Valley Enterprises 209-722-8278

or

Barry Olsen 623-936-6088.

Barry

#10

Matt,

Please check, you gave the tread diameter as 2.16", In G those are drivers not freight truck wheels. ???

Barry

I might add, I can turn the wheels to whatever you want. I have the tools to replicate the Sierra profiles (not all) and permission to use them. If you need a large qty then contact Gary.

BBT

#11

Ah! I caught it, the tread diameter is 1.216", see the suggestions above. I have those wheels in blackened steel, if you want shiny tread edges, that can be done.

Barry

#12

Barry Olsen said:

Ah! I caught it, the tread diameter is 1.216", see the suggestions above. I have those wheels in blackened steel, if you want shiny tread edges, that can be done.

Barry

Oops, thanks for that correction. I fixed the first post so tread diameter says 1.216"

#13

Matt,

Can I help you or you can contact Gary Watkins. How many axles do you need?

The Bachmann axle is .117" diameter (or .298 mm). But the wheel adapter/insulator will accept a eighth inch axle (.125"). The axle protrusion on a Bachmann wheel can be turned to be equal to the tire side. Also the wheels can be shiny at least on the sides. If you need the tread shiny, I would suggest turning the wheel to Sierra Valley profile. Gary has provided a Sierra valley profile with scale flanges (not recommending), semi scale flanges (possible) or I use a flange profile a bit larger which I do recommend.

Questions, please advise.

Barry

#14

I forgot to mention the Bachmann axle length is 2.734" or 69.45 mm easy to reduce to 2.5".

I have a box of these axles, looks like 1000.

Barry

#15

Appreciate the help Barry.

I’ll have to wait until I get to my layout in Colorado this summer before I’ll know how many wheels I’ll need.

#16

Barry, are these freight wheels or driver wheels? If freight wheels, Might you be interested in selling 50-60+ axels? if so let me know.

#17

Dave,

I didn’t mean to mislead, but I have maybe 1000 Bachmann Axles; as in a steel plated rod (no wheels). These have been accumulated over the years from various sources usually involved in reusing Bachmann wheelsets into new side frames.

I do have a collection of Sierra Valley wheelsets (wheels with axles), but I should get the counts and sizes.

Barry

#18

An update.

I cut the end nubs off of some LGB metal wheels and they ended up working great. The LGB wheels also look like larger versions of the original Precision Scale wheels.

Probably the hardest thing to do on this tank car was converting it to Kadee couplers. I cut the Kadee box so it would fit in the small coupler housing on the tank and then drilled and tapped for a 4-40 screw. I used Kadee 906 couplers. Lot of work, but ended up looking really nice. And the best thing, with the larger wheels, the coupler height is spot on perfect now.

Now that I know how to do this conversion should help for future conversions this summer.

I know, y’all want pictures. But in all honesty they’ll look a lot better when I get to our layout in Colorado this summer.

#19

It didn’t happen without pictures Matt!

:wink:

#20

Finally got the oil dock out on the layout today. And I think the Precision Scale tanks look nice with it. A definite improvement in prototype appearance over my old Bachmann (1:22.5 scale “Big Train”) tanks. The best part is the tank tops come off so I can “load” them up at the dock.

And I don’t really notice the 1:24 scale sticking out to my predominately 1:22.5 scaled trains.

That’s the LGB wheels and Kadee couplers on the tanks I mentioned in earlier posts to this thread.

(http://i.imgur.com/LyicC2E.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ghGDZev.jpg)