Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

MDC 33 inch wheels with brass axles, good runners, good with magnets?

856 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
MDC 33 inch wheels with brass axles, good runners, good with magnets?
Posted by IDRick on Thursday, October 27, 2022 4:37 AM

Found a good deal on MDC wheels with brass axles.  I believe these will fit Roundhouse and Athearn BB cars.  Are they good runners or stay away?  Will they work with magnetic uncoupling?  (Need to replace the steel weights too)  They will be used on a small switching layout with no grade changes.  Short trains, less than 10 cars.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Thursday, October 27, 2022 9:45 AM

Are these the ones with plastic wheels? In either case, you should be fine. You can double-check with a magnet, but I'm pretty sure they are non-magnetic.

Simon

  • Member since
    April 2021
  • From: saskabush
  • 127 posts
Posted by wvgca on Friday, October 28, 2022 7:38 PM

brass is non magnetic, and the wheels are plastic ,,, so they are okay runners, not exceptional be any means  ..

the wheels -may- be actualy 32 inch, but you won't see that easily, and the mdc axles are just a wee bit shorter than the old athearn wheels, but again they will work okay ..

  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
Posted by IDRick on Sunday, October 30, 2022 9:33 AM

Alright, thank you for the replies!  I have ordered the MDC axles.  The price was right. I will receive 48 MDC bronze axles + plastic wheels for slightly more than a 12-pack of Intermountain metal axles.  They will be used on cars destined for industrial spurs with magnets.  IMO, less free-rolling wheels on non-metallic axles are better for slow switching moves over magnets.  Granted, the plastic wheels will accumulate crud faster than metal wheels and will reduce the number of cars that can be pulled up inclines.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!