I know the USA wheels will not work either so those are out as well but there has to be an answer on who is making wheels now that work because I cannot be the only one trying to do this now.
Now that I understand the problem, I've had good success with Gary Raymond's wheels, replacing Ariisto's plastic "ball bearing" wheels. It might have been dumb luck, but I'll go with it.
Aristo never made upgrade wheels for these…but they had the trucks with metal wheels already installed. I still have 2 hoppers with plastic for that reason. Maybe I should make some myself… Do you prefer brass?
Are we talking about the trucks/wheels that Aristo marketed as “Ball Bearing?” If so, I thought that Aristo did have wheel sets for those trucks, as they originally did come with metal wheels, if memory serves.
In any case, the Gary Raymond wheels serve admirably. Shoot him an email.
No, these are “roller bearing” style trucks with the little roller bearing caps that spin. They did have ball bearing wheelsets that had BBs on the axles allowing the wheels to spin independently of each other. They also had ball bearings you could install in the side frames of the older style freight trucks.
Unfortunately, I don’t think they ever produced metal wheels with the longer axles available separately from the trucks. They had a good deal on metal-wheel equipped roller bearing trucks. It seemed silly to replace perfectly good trucks, but they were about $30/ set if memory serves.
Guys, they are the Barber S2 roller bearing trucks, and Aristo did make metal wheel upgrades for them. Its the same part number as the other Aristo wheels, but they tacked a “D” on the end. I bought a set to change from plastic to metal wheels on a 100 ton hopper I have.
Ahh that does sound familiar…
Are they the same trucks that are on the Evans boxcar? If so, Gary’s wheels work great!
David those would be exactly what I am looking for. The question is who makes an alternative.
GARY RAYMOND. Haven’t you been following this thread? 
Steve Featherkile said:
GARY RAYMOND. Haven’t you been following this thread?
Joseph Lupinski said:
David those would be exactly what I am looking for. The question is who makes an alternative.
Joe
You have another option as well. You can purchase the USA intermodal truck and install USA wheels for about the same price as the “out of stock” aristo wheels. Or you can use the standard Aristo wheels or Bachmanns in these trucks as well. I am currently swapping out Aristo Bettendorfs on my rolling stock for the USA barbers.
Rooster, the “standard” Aristo wheels supposedly don’t have axles long enough to put on the roller bearing caps. Supposedly, I haven’t tried.
Another option is a steel wheel that I am having produced. They have proper fillets and tapered flanges and treads. They are double insulated too. The wheels are steel unplated only. Not yet listed on my website but they will be as soon as the production is here. The large wheel is 1.28" that you need.
They are proper flanges 1.5mm not the typical overly large 3mm as seen on Bachmann and Aristo and others.
Axle width is 2.70" and a .115" dia end Pricing is 5.95 per axle
Soon to be shown www.thetraindepartment.com
Well I recently up graded my Aristo Roller bearing trucks. I removed the plastic wheels and use some AML wheels sets I had remove from there cattle cars. Worked great and all you had to do was to knurl the end of the axle to retain the roller cap. Later RJD
Hi guys,
Been reading this thread and checked out my stash of Aristo trucks, modern bearing compared to older standard trucks both with Aristo metal wheels and here is what I found.
The overall axle length is the same for both, where changed is the turned down stub axle length is longer on the modern truck axles and the side frames are slightly closer together with the end result being that the stub axle extends farther out so the bearing can be pushed on. The metal wheels themselves are the same on both trucks and the gauge is the same.
As for the plastic wheels on the modern bearing trucks, the axle is the same diameter thruout. The difference is the shoulder on the plastic wheel is slightly shortened as compared to plastic wheels on standard trucks thus accommodating for the shorter distance between the modern truck side frames and using the same push on bearing.
So standard Aristo metal wheel sets can be used on modern bearing trucks providing that the axle stubs be turned on a lathe to make the stub longer. The wheels and plastic bushings can be removed so the axle can be chucked into a lathe and turned then the wheels and plastic bushings reinstalled in the same spots and installed in modern bearing trucks with bearing caps installed. Do not mix up metal wheel sets from other Aristo trucks such as tenders, Commonwealth trucks as they have different size wheels and axles.
I think that I got it straight!!!
Hi again guys,
I was just measuring some San Val metal wheel sets and the same thing could be done with them and installed in Aristo modern bearing trucks with the bearing caps although the wheel diameter is slightly smaller.
You would not think that wheels could be so interesting , I have gathered useful info here .
Of course , I shall never get to use it because I am supposed to be an armchair modeller . Allegedly.
It does surprise me , the variation between manufacturers .
Garden Railway Specialists make metal replacements for most popular brands of wheel , their turnround is good too (no pun intended) .
Mike
Hi Mike,
Wheels have always been a mix mash!!! I have a lathe and a milling machine, so from time to time I produce metal chips, plastic chips and wood chips too!!!
Was just looking at various Aristo wheels, several different sizes, heavyweights, streamliners, tenders, Commonwealth trucks, cabooses, both wheels insulated, one wheel insulated, etc.
Years back I changed over about 150 freight cars of various brands to San Val wheels. When the Aristo modern bearing trucks with metal wheels came out, I bought a bunch of those also, I just found three new sets in my stash that I had forgotten about. I also found a bunch of San Val sets in silver, black and black full bearing. I need to do an inventory!!!
I have been concentrating on replacing all the old club modules, a turntable, transfer table and other things over the last few years, but now I need to get back into my trains!!!
Later
Bob Mac