A real easy way to make them roll free-er is to put small stainless washers between the wheels and side frames, makes a world of improvement with the stock wheel sets and is a-lot cheaper....I could easily pull five of them than with a Lionel Atlantic....
Byron C.
hey Cap'n,
I put some of the Aristo ones with power pick ups on my C-16 tenders and I picked up a set of SanVal regular BB wheels to stick on my battery RC trailer cars. The Aristos are the hands down winner right out of the box. If I leave a tender on a slight grade it will start rolling on its own. The SanVals are okay. They worked a bit better are I gave them a good dose of ultra lite oil. Some of them seem to roll better than others so QC is a bit suspect.
You also have the option of reaming out the journals a bit and sticking in ball bearings in the journals ends - http://www.ridgeroadstation.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=25529411!255
The only disadvantage to doing that is you loose the reduced friction advantage you would get on curves.
-Brian
Aristo sells ball bearings for this conversion, you can go to their site to get lots of good advice on doing this.
I heard all the woes of friction and not tracking well, and then bought 7 of them. They need lubrication on all the axles, and the sidebearings (the rib on the truck that contacts the chassis), after lubing, I do not need ball bearings and they track great.
Try this first....
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
Capt. Bob - Suggest you also read George Schreyer's tips page on Aristo heavyweights. He has good ideas.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips2/hw_tips.html
Al
I found a major problem with my Aristo heavy weight truck frames, is that they are not square to the rail. The wheel also rub on the tops of the frames.
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