Free rolling cars

[da_kraut]

Hello everybody

I bought a set of Kato well cars in HO.  Hooked the three cars together and could not believe how well these cars roll.  What is it with the trucks and axles that Kato uses that makes them roll that well?  I use the truck tuner and P2K or IM steel axles as a rule on all my equipment.  Unfortunately nothing rolls as good as the Kato cars. 

Thank you for the replies.

Frank

[jrbernier]

Frank,

  This is just Kato quality.  Good design, precision fit, and quality control at assembly works every time.  I have some Kato ACF cement hoppers.  The plastic parts just 'fit' together so well - no need for filing.  The trucks just roll so well, and they are plastic with metal needle point axles.

  My Accurail truck side frames with I-M are the best rolling trucks I have(after 'tuning' them...

Jim

[joe323]

I will let you know on Sunday. The wife bought me a set for Easter. 

[Burlington Northern #24]

My MTL heavyweights move like butter on a hot frying pan..... I need a better analogy but that was off the top of the head. 

I'm up to 4 and will be getting more because of the prototype I model. 

[riogrande5761]

KATO doesn't have a corner on free rolling cars.  My Proto 2000 kits built freight cars roll as freely as anything can - any slight grade and they will roll.  I have others that are quite good to. 

jrbernier

Frank,

  This is just Kato quality.  Good design, precision fit, and quality control at assembly works every time.  I have some Kato ACF cement hoppers.  The plastic parts just 'fit' together so well - no need for filing.  The trucks just roll so well, and they are plastic with metal needle point axles.

  My Accurail truck side frames with I-M are the best rolling trucks I have(after 'tuning' them...

Jim

Agree'd on the KATO 2-bay hoppers.  I picked up a set of 3 off the bay a few years ago for $20 and they just snapped together, no glue and a very precise fit.  If only there were more kits like those - they are engineered very well.  If only the shade of gray wasn't so dark on the Rio Grande version I have.

At present I don't own a truck tuner but do plan on getting one to use where needed in a few cases.

[BRAKIE]

riogrande5761

At present I don't own a truck tuner but do plan on getting one to use where needed in a few cases.

Jim,I have one but, seldom use it..I found a small jeweler's Phillips head screwdriver will do the same thing.

These come in a screwdriver set that sells around one or two bucks at either a Family Dollar or General Dollar store.

[cacole]

For quality HO scale replacement trucks, the two brands I use most are Kato and Tahoe Model Works; both roll extremely well.

[AntonioFP45]

Well, it's always nice to have options.  I wasn't aware that Kato produced freight car trucks for sale.  I went to the Kato USA website and found two (scroll to the bottom of the page on the link).  Looks like they have a standard mounting hole, so they should fit Athearn, Walthers, and Bowser freight cars.

http://katousa.com/HO/accessories.html

 

[fec153]

I have  over 20 Walther Ortner hoppers and they roll down even a slight decline nicely. No wobble.

Flip

 

[bruce22]

All my cars have Kato wheel sets in tuned trucks. Had a coupler separate whilst running a twenty car freight up my 2.25% helix. Needless to say, the big hook was in service for quite awhile. Interesting and fun..

[da_kraut]

Hello Everybody,

thank you for all the replies. Looks like I will experiment with the truck tuner, graphite and grease to try and bring all the other cars up to the bar that Kato set. 

Thank you

Frank

[wp8thsub]

riogrande5761

My Proto 2000 kits built freight cars roll as freely as anything can - any slight grade and they will roll.

I just built an older Proto 2000 kit after not messing with them for a number of years.  With no modification it rolls with the slightest push.  I'm actually thinking of making it less free rolling because it's a disadantage for spotting the car at an industry or switching it in a yard.  The trucks work great in a train, less so for anything else.

[gmcrail]

The best-rolling trucks I've ever seen (in nearly 60 years of Model RRing), are AHM/Rivarossi 6-wheel passenger trucks with Kadee 36" wheelsets. And graphite and grease might wind up retarding your wheels as much as freeing them.