Do 'drop-in metal wheel relacements work? - fact and fiction

[Don Gibson]

DO they 'drop in? -  Only if the axles are the same length. Foreign suppliers do not all meet NMRA specs. + (FEW car makers  make their own wheelsets).

DO they clean track? -Metal wheels spread oil and dirt contaniments same as plastic. (A possiblev 'Hold-over' from brass track which 'tarnished').

DO they clean easier? - depends on method - solvent, wire brush etc.

ARE they more apt to be in gauge? - So far. More care seems to be given to more expensive,  aftermarket products.

DO they 'track' better? - Yes, because of added  'unsprung' weight (lowers center of gravity).

DO they ROLL better? Maybe, (maybe not).  Rolling Qualities are a result of sideframe and axle friction. (Polished axle points and Delrin sideframes are so far have been best). Plastic and metal wheels - when unemcumbered - seem to roll equally down the same incline.

LOOKS / SOUNDS. Each has it's adherants. Nickel plated wheels may look cool, but are not very prototypical. 'Clickety-clack' however, was - pre-'welded' rail.

 

[jrbernier]

Don,

• 'Drop In' is possible.  Reboxx has exact dimension axle lengths.  Here is the link to their charts:

http://www.reboxx.com/wheelsets.htm

• Metal wheel sets do not 'clean' the track.  However, if you clean your track and the metal wheel sets first, they will not 'track' the 'gunk' around like plastic wheel sets.
• I pop them out and 'wash' them in one of those small mesh dishwasher bags(got mine at Kmart).  I suppose you can 'wash' the plastic ones as well, but be carefull that you do not melt them!
• Gauge - Sure beats the old plastic ones that slip out of gauge on the metal axle....
• Tracking - Of course they do(as you mentioned - low C of G)
• Rolling - In general, yes.  Some like the Kadee wheel sets do not roll very well to start with.  Intermountain/Reboxx are great, as well as Atlas & Branchline wheel sets.  I use the 'tool' to clean out all of my journals(either Reboxx or Micro-Mark work well).  Then insert your wheel sets and enjoy...
• Looks/Sound - Yes they are noisey(real trains are too).  Even with our 36" welded rail(flex track). there are enough joints/turnouts/crossings to generate 'clickety-clack'.

  I remove my freight cars each fall, 'wash' the wheels, clean the engine wheels on the 'cleaning station'(paper towel soaked with '409' draped over a 'test track'), and clean all of my track with my CMX track cleaner(20' by 25' layout).  This usually takes me about a week of evenings(I am not married).  The old plastic wheels seemed to collect crud and track it all over the layout.  I was cleaning track every month.   Now, with the metal wheels, I clean the track once in the fall(unless I have a layout construction project going on).

  Our club uses only metal wheels, and we run a couple of CMX trains around the layout before open houses.  I am convinced!

 Jim Bernier

[desertdog]

Hi Don,

I agree on most of your points.  As to "do they clean easier?" I would say that metal wheels are less likely to pick up dirt in the first place, the theory being that a spinning plastic wheel creates static electricity which in turn attracts dirt. 

I have never had big issues with compatibility with sideframes, but I have always used a reamer anyway when I convert axles.  I like Intermountain wheelsets best.  Proto 2000 is my second choice but I have had a few bad batches of them.

Nickel plated wheels look great from the end of the car.  I always paint the side casting with grimy black and / or rust.  Most of my track is flex, but the cars sound very realistic going over diamonds and turnouts.

 

John Timm