HO Scale replacement wheel sets

[Locojunkie]

I always am repairing my freight cars. I get new metal wheel sets for the trucks. I always get 33" wheels as I think that is the standard size for freight cars. Recently I have seen sets that are 36". What is the standard size wheel set size that all hobby manufacturers use and you guys use for ho freight car trucks. Thanks in advance as always for you time, patience and answers as always.

[rrebell]

33" is common for a lot of HO cars and I use Intermountain wheel sets, they just seem to roll better.

[PennsyLou]

This is from the Intermountain web site:

33" wheels are used on 50 & 70 ton capacity cars (CAPY approximately 150,000 LBS or less). 36" wheels are used on 100 ton capacity cars (CAPY approximately 200,000 LBS), and on all passenger cars no matter the era.

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

Locojunkie

What is the standard size wheel set size that all hobby manufacturers use...

There is no "standard-size" wheel.

Wheel diameter is dependent on many factors.

Here are some guidelines from the Intermountain website:

• 28" wheels are used on modern Tri-Level Autoracks, some Bi-Level Autoracks, and some older intermodal cars such as Impack spine cars, front runners & four runners - check your prototype.
• 33" wheels are used on 50 & 70 ton capacity cars (CAPY approximately 150,000 LBS or less).
• 36" wheels are used on 100 ton capacity cars (CAPY approximately 200,000 LBS), and on all passenger cars no matter the era.
• 38" wheels are used on 150 ton capacity cars, primarily the center connection trucks on modern intermodal cars with 33" wheels at the coupler ends.
• Cabooses can use either 33" or 36" wheels depending on the prototype.

If you are ever unsure of which size to use, you can simply replace the wheels currently on the car with the same size.

 

Wheel diameter can be measured with a caliper:

• 28" wheels measure (28/87.1=0.321") in HO scale.
• 33" wheels measure (33/87.1=0.378") in HO scale.
• 36" wheels measure (36/87.1=0.413") in HO scale.
• 38" wheels measure (38/87.1=0.436") in HO scale.

Hope this helps.

[AntonioFP45]

Edit:  JJ's post above is excellent! I tried to delete this one after seeing his, but the software won't let me. 

33" wheels are used for cars in the 30-70 ton capacityrange.  36" wheels are generally used for freight cars rated for 100 tons as well as passenger cars built the 1920's thru today.  The 28" wheels are used for triple-deck autorack cars for clearance under overpasses. 

My brand preferences are Walthers and Rapido axles sets. 

[MisterBeasley]

Get a Micro Mark Truck Tuner.  This will clean out the axle bearings on new and used trucks and help your new wheelsets work even better.  

You may need new trucks for some cars.  I had some old metal Talgo trucks that could not be disassembled, so I had to replace the trucks so I could replace the wheelsets.  I also had some ancient Athearn sprung trucks that were so worn out they wouldn't even hold the wheels.

 

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

MisterBeasley

Get a Micro Mark Truck Tuner. This will clean out the axle bearings on new and used trucks and help your new wheelsets work even better.

Great advice!

Another handy item to have is a coupler height gauge.

There are many different types.

I prefer the Kadee #206 Insulated version.

You might ask why use a coupler height gauge when replacing wheels?

Car/coupler height can be adjusted by the wheel size- -intentionally or unintentionally.

You can confirm that the wheels are the correct size by checking the coupler height.

Presuming the couplers were at the correct height to begin with by checking before swapping out wheels.

MisterBeasley

You may need new trucks for some cars.

This can be a personal choice...Sprug vs. un-sprung trucks...performance gains or losses over looks? Your Thoughts???

I have settled on unsprung Accurail Roller Bearing Trucks.

For fine-tuning the car and coupler height Kadee fiber washers: #208 & #209, are another handy item.

I try to limit the number of washers used to no more than two (2) or three (3). If I have to use more than this I begin looking at couplers or wheels for proper alignment.

Cars can get "tippy" when too many washers are used to correct for other maladies.

Hope this helps.