I have been working on a friends collection and some cars I have been amassing which have the Aristo wheel with the brass bushing in them. Many of them are still using plastic wheels and want to convert to mental but finding the USA wheels do not work so can anyone point me in the direction of who makes metal wheels that fit those types of trucks?
When my stash of Aristo wheels ran out I started using Bachmann metal wheels. The USA wheels could work, if you modify them a bit, but the Bachmann wheels fit just fine out of the package.
Of course the SanVal wheels will work also.
Many folks here would support the suggestion by David regarding Bachmann wheels, me included. Just remember to get the larger of the two sizes.
Yeah I am not setup to go modifying metal wheels so I have to buy them as is. So Bachmanns will work I will need to go look at these SanVal ones not familiar with them.
I like the SanVal wheels and they seem to work on everything I have.
These are the San Val wheels, though they are no longer called that. But ana.kramer is Al Kramer and it was his store.
Don’t forget Gary Raymond.
David Maynard said:
When my stash of Aristo wheels ran out I started using Bachmann metal wheels. The USA wheels could work, if you modify them a bit, but the Bachmann wheels fit just fine out of the package.
I found the same, but on a tender with electrical pickups on the bearings, the Bachmann wheels shorted from the wheel to the axle at both sides through the pickups.
Solution was to add a small styrene washer (rough cut with scissors) over the axle end to isolate the wheels. Of course, that also stopped the pickups from working!
I believe that the axles on those trucks with the brass bushings are longer than the standard ones. They stick clear through the bushing. So standard wheels, like Bachmann don’t work so good. When I was buying lots of the 100 ton hoppers with plastic wheels, I found it just as cheap to buy new trucks with metal wheels and swap them out, rather than buy the right wheels and change them.
Paul yes, I found that with the Aristo roller bearing trucks too. And Polk’s GenereatioNext has those trucks available.
Pete, yea, I can see where that might happen. Since Joseph has trucks with a brass bushing, a nylon washer on the axle end should prevent any shorts.
Steve, thanks, I did forget Gary Raymond. I knew there was another one out there, but I couldn’t remember who when I first posted.
Also Northwest Shortline has replacement metal wheels.
Ok so things are becoming as clear as mud now with apparently no real clear answer. Anyway I am not putting these on any cars with pickups it’s all for rolling stock so I assume that wouldn’t be an issue. So after all is said and done I am assuming that Bachmann larger size and ones from SanVAL are ok.
Joseph, if the trucks have brass bushings, they can possibly short from the wheel to the axle to the other wheel. So adding a nylon washer to one axle end would be a wise precaution, no matter who’s wheels you use.
Personally I use the Bachmann wheels, because they are the least expensive option. They do come in 2 sizes, so make sure you get the larger size. 31.00mm, item number 92421.
What aboud Ka-dee’s new weels.
Sean McGillicuddy said:
What aboud Ka-dee’s new weels.
That’s a good choice, too.
Link to the Kadee wheels that have the ribbed back sides and lettered front side
http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page951.htm
$13.95 per TRUCK so a little more than Bachmann list price, but with the added details. They also look like the wheel is tapered and should track better then anyone’s non-tapered.
They come in black too, if you so desire, for a few dollars more.
It looks like the KaDee wheel insulating busing stands proud of the wheel. That should prevent the wheel from contacting the brass bushing in the journal. But they are more expensive then the Bachmann wheels.
And yes, I forgot about them too.
This UK shop makes direct replacement wheels for most of the LGB , Aristo , USA Trains , Bachmann .
If you are interested , send an email and ask which wheels they stock do what .
Mike Brit
just to be clear, there are 3 cases that fit the OP’s question:
brass bushings - actually brass eyelets in the passenger cars (HW)
brass bushings - the ones used in the tender pickups
brass bushings - the ones in the roller bearing freight trucks.
So which of the 3 is the question about Joseph?
The Brass bushing in the roller bearings freight trucks.
Ahh… as Paul pointed out earlier, those axles are longer, since they project through the journal boxes so the little roller bearing caps can be affixed.
I’m pretty much he was also right that the axles on the Bachmann wheels are not long enough.
Measure what yours are… I seem to remember that someone made wheelsets with longer axles, was it USAT or AML or AMS?
If you cannot find what you need, perhaps Gary Raymond would make you a batch at a reasonable price.
Greg