Should I replace plastic wheels

Gizzy

dragon


While we are chatting about plastic wheels . . . . . . . . . . . if I fit the LGB pickup wheels to a wagon can I feed the power to the motor through the socket on the back of the loco cab? Or does it vary from model to model? Or Are the sockets for lighting and 'out' only?

I will have a go if I can work out the polarity. Thank you.

Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter Fred?
 

Yes I do.

After all this hype for metal wheels, Steve should seize the advertising opportunity and offer a bulk discount for all us newly converted people to replace our track dirtying plastic stuff.  I had always blamed the live steam locos for making the track a mess, I never dreamed it was what was being hauled by them. I hate to think how many sets I will need just for my LGB hoppers and small coaches. Never mind as its nearly Christmas!

dragon

Gizzy

dragon


While we are chatting about plastic wheels . . . . . . . . . . . if I fit the LGB pickup wheels to a wagon can I feed the power to the motor through the socket on the back of the loco cab? Or does it vary from model to model? Or Are the sockets for lighting and 'out' only?

I will have a go if I can work out the polarity. Thank you.

Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter Fred?

Yes I do.

 
I guess the question should be do you know how to use a volt meter Fred??.........................I just plug one lead in if it don't spark must be OK........................then plug 't'other one in...........

"Most garden railwaymen are ordinary folk - Albeit as nutty as fruitcakes"...D. Rowlands

I would  recommend  that LGB  Metal  wheels  are  NOT  your  first  choice  as  they  are  approx  only half the  weight  of  some other  brands  such as  USA  trains wheels ( not  only  that  LGB  are  more  expensive!)

Steve


Are the USA Trains wheels ok to fit on LGB European stock, functionally and aesthetically?

RH Prague

I would  recommend  that LGB  Metal  wheels  are  NOT  your  first  choice  as  they  are  approx  only half the  weight  of  some other  brands  such as  USA  trains wheels ( not  only  that  LGB  are  more  expensive!)

Steve


Are the USA Trains wheels ok to fit on LGB European stock, functionally and aesthetically?

They're actually better than LGB in my view - very slightly smaller so the stock rides just a fraction lower but still looks fine if coupled to LGB wheeled stock. If you get the blackened versions they do look superb. I believe that some have said (and I may be wrong) that the axles are marginally longer so may be a tight fit (easily remedied) with some LGB stock, but I haven't experienced this problem and I have rewheeled a LOT of stock. My favourite though was the USA ball bearing fitted wheels - expensive but absolutely lovely in all respects.
 
Incidentally, are you the old PragueAddict of GSM?

John -

Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday

JRinTawa

On my scratch built stock I've been using Tenmille spoked wheels and they are giving me great results too.

I was going to ask which (metal) spoked wheels people use. Is the consensus that Tenmille are the way to go? Anyone any experience of other metal (tyred) spoked wheels - LGB seem to get the thumbs-down from most?

Rik

---

For the latest developments on the Peckforton Railway see - http://www.riksrailway.blogspot.com  or http://www.youtube.com/user/rikbennett9?feature=mhsn

I know this goes against the majority feeling but I bought some Bachmann wheels at Telford and having fitting them to some lgb twin axle coaches I have seen a major difference. The coaches no longer free wheeled and none of my engines could pull more than two of them at a time and even then at a much reduced speed. Tried lubricating and spinning the axles but the only cure was to put the plastic ones back on. At least I've got a realistic load for my my wagons now!!

Could be that they are Bachmann?  Good quality metal wheelsets will spin as freely in their journals as plastic and the inertia provided by the weight of the wheel will keep them spinning longer. You may need to carefully ream out the axlebox a bit (and check the axle is the same length and diameter - a bit smaller is OK) as that you are replacing and doesn't have any rough burrs)  - but to get benefit they must rotate smoothly and easily.

John -

Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday

shropshire lad


I know this goes against the majority feeling but I bought some Bachmann wheels at Telford and having fitting them to some lgb twin axle coaches I have seen a major difference. The coaches no longer free wheeled and none of my engines could pull more than two of them at a time and even then at a much reduced speed. Tried lubricating and spinning the axles but the only cure was to put the plastic ones back on. At least I've got a realistic load for my my wagons now!!

I've had the same problem, it was the plastic brake blocks which are moulded to the LGB bogies binding on the Bachmann wheels. In effect it's like trying to drive away with the brakes on. Just file the brake blocks back a smidge and all will be well.

Mel, CMO and chief sausage knotter, the Wetton Gooey Light Railway.
The advantages of simplifying origami are two-fold


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wetton-Gooey-Light-Railway/246392918762922

John has a very good point. I think that some of the more recent bogies need shorter axles or deeper holes in the axleboxes.
A friend recently bought a rake of heavy, metal bodied, GRS Ffestiniog bogie coaches. They didn't run freely so he fitted metal wheels to no avail, despite their weight they wouldn't run away down a slope! They did after making the axlebox holes deeper and adding a drop of oil.

Please do not adjust your mind, there is a fault in reality.

Nice one Mel! I can't see where it's rubbing but easing the brake arms back has done the trick til I can get in there properly
Thanks John for your suggestion

Hey, I remember the brake block trick now! If I recall, LGB plastic is quite amenable to the very brief application of a flame to soften the plastic, bend away and hold for a second or two and the plastic hardens again. Leave the flame aroud for too long though and you'll wish you hadn't tried this trick!

John -

Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday

Incidentally, are you the old PragueAddict of GSM?

Hi John


Yes I guess I must be. Certainly I was on GSM. You helped me a couple of times. I think the first time was when I bought a dodgy 'new' Harz 2-6-2 off eBay only to establish through you and others that it was 20 years old. Running well for its age though, and the guy sent me half the money back !I cant remember what handle I used. Prague Addick it would have been, as the Addicks are nickname of my hapless other love, Charlton Athletic FC....


Richard

Slaters do a direct replacement for LGB spoked wheels. Slaters part no: SLG 630, 30.3mm diam, replaces LGB 67319. These have steel tyres on a plastic spoked centre. They also do a stainless steel tired version - more expensive!
 
GRS do several replacements for LGB wheelsets, to enable people to change LGB stock to 32mm gauge as well as 45mm. Solid disc wheels with different diameters. Some are steel, some are nickel plated and some are aluminium wheels.

West Herts

That's the one. We visited Prague some time after that and I couldn't find you about then to seek advice - loved the city (and must go back as it went straight to the top of my European favourites) and the trams - but the centre was so different from the shadows of communism that were still apparent on the outskirts. 

John -

Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday

A though about the Bachmann wheels being tight as replacements.  Found a similar issue when changing whels sets on Hartland bogied stock.  The collar on the Bachmann wheels were just slightly bigger than equivalent on the HLW plastic ones and they binded on the back of the axleboxes.  A quick trim to the offending edge of the axleboxes and the Bachmann ones now run as sweet as a nut.

In answer to Rik's query re metal spoked wheels. As other's noted Tenmille is not the only option, there are others to choose from.  The Tenmille ones I use are the split spoke type which are right for the era of NZR stuff I like.

John
Principal Operator of the H&M Garden Railway & organiser Wellington Garden Railway Group
I don't take myself seriously, so I apologize if you do.

dragon

Gizzy

dragon


While we are chatting about plastic wheels . . . . . . . . . . . if I fit the LGB pickup wheels to a wagon can I feed the power to the motor through the socket on the back of the loco cab? Or does it vary from model to model? Or Are the sockets for lighting and 'out' only?

I will have a go if I can work out the polarity. Thank you.

Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter Fred?

Yes I do.

PM sent with instructions to help you work out the polarity....

Gizzy, CME of the Logs, Gravel and Bricks Railway...

Cab Ride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrHIVmq8KY

Weybourne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uY24RZzumM&feature=related

Shunting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGSD45IraEU

LGB MTS with PC Control

Gizzy

dragon

Gizzy

dragon


While we are chatting about plastic wheels . . . . . . . . . . . if I fit the LGB pickup wheels to a wagon can I feed the power to the motor through the socket on the back of the loco cab? Or does it vary from model to model? Or Are the sockets for lighting and 'out' only?

I will have a go if I can work out the polarity. Thank you.

Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter Fred?

Yes I do.

PM sent with instructions to help you work out the polarity....

Many thanks. Not delivered yet.

dragon

Gizzy

dragon

Gizzy

dragon


While we are chatting about plastic wheels . . . . . . . . . . . if I fit the LGB pickup wheels to a wagon can I feed the power to the motor through the socket on the back of the loco cab? Or does it vary from model to model? Or Are the sockets for lighting and 'out' only?

I will have a go if I can work out the polarity. Thank you.

Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter Fred?

Yes I do.

PM sent with instructions to help you work out the polarity....

Many thanks. Not delivered yet.

Well, I've received your thank you PM Fred....

Gizzy, CME of the Logs, Gravel and Bricks Railway...

Cab Ride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrHIVmq8KY

Weybourne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uY24RZzumM&feature=related

Shunting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGSD45IraEU

LGB MTS with PC Control

This thread's running better than the plastic wheels!

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

trammayo


This thread's running better than the plastic wheels!

Mick

Sort of on the subject of wheels I'm sure I vaguely remember, from when I first started in G Scale, a fix for LGB 4 wheel coaches using lolly sticks that kept the axles more  in line.
Anyone any ideas or do I need to go for a lie down?

davecar


I have just started with g scale and I have bought rolling stock from various sources.
 
The new Bachmann trucks/coaches all have metal wheels. The new Pico have not. Also I bought several LGB on Ebay and they dont' have metal wheels.
 
I read on a forum that plastic wheels make the track harder to clean. should I start replacing my plastic wheels with metal wheels? Is it worth the cost?
 
Thanks,
 
Dave

This was one of Andy's (Mariazellerbahn) threads on GSM where he devised a method of self steering for long wheelbase 4 and 6 wheel stock - the type that have the pivoted end axles. Pivoted end axles are fine provided the car is coupled to something to maintain direction - but the problem is the last axle on the train which is free to go where it wishes within the limitation of the flanges. The net result is that it drags along untidily on those flanges. Andy's method connected this trailing axle to the leading axle (by the techinical wizardry of lolly sticks) and thus kept the flanges in better alignment with the rail.
 
Now if anyone has access to GSM archives, this was a useful one..........................................

John -

Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday

Oops sorry - I quoted the wrong message on my last post. I was replying to Shropshire Lad's post 63. Excuse me while I go and lie down in a darkened room for a while!

John -

Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday

Gizzy

dragon

Gizzy

dragon

Gizzy

dragon


While we are chatting about plastic wheels . . . . . . . . . . . if I fit the LGB pickup wheels to a wagon can I feed the power to the motor through the socket on the back of the loco cab? Or does it vary from model to model? Or Are the sockets for lighting and 'out' only?

I will have a go if I can work out the polarity. Thank you.

Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter Fred?

Yes I do.

PM sent with instructions to help you work out the polarity....

Many thanks. Not delivered yet.

Well, I've received your thank you PM Fred....

PM sorted .Apologies for confusion.

Yes!

Charles Dickens once wrote; "It is a far, far better thing" then spoilt it by continuing!

This thread has been very useful for me, and I've been pondering what steps to take. In particular I'm thinking about coach lighting. As I understand it, another benefit of metal wheels is that you can use track power for lighting. That certainly seems more elegant. I fitted a ZB buffet car with LGB ball bearing wheel sets, which worked out at €16 per axle, but havent installed the lights yet.
Now the thing is, they have built in electrical pickups. I'd love to know if people use track power for lighting with USTrains metal wheels, and if so, how did they wire up? 
I thought that maybe I can use 1/2 LGB 67403 axles on 4 axle coaches, and save a bit of money that way, but sounds like there are size differences between the wheels and those  of the UStrains type which would rule it out.

Any thoughts or experiences? (sorry if it may have been covered in a different thread, but i didnt find anything in search)

RH Prague


This thread has been very useful for me, and I've been pondering what steps to take. In particular I'm thinking about coach lighting. As I understand it, another benefit of metal wheels is that you can use track power for lighting. That certainly seems more elegant. I fitted a ZB buffet car with LGB ball bearing wheel sets, which worked out at €16 per axle, but havent installed the lights yet.
Now the thing is, they have built in electrical pickups. I'd love to know if people use track power for lighting with USTrains metal wheels, and if so, how did they wire up? 
I thought that maybe I can use 1/2 LGB 67403 axles on 4 axle coaches, and save a bit of money that way, but sounds like there are size differences between the wheels and those  of the UStrains type which would rule it out.

Any thoughts or experiences? (sorry if it may have been covered in a different thread, but i didnt find anything in search)

I don't use metal wheels for lighting pickups - batteries do me for that, but I've used both USAT, Bachmann & LGB metal wheels for loco power pickup - all using the LGB or Massoth plungers, and fixing them on to the bogies in various ways.  The massoth plungers are a bit longer, and can create a bit more drag, so I don't use them on loco pony trucks, but they're OK on tender bogies where there's a bit of weight.
 

The Wild West Sussex Railroad lurches on 

I have finally consigned the last of the plastic wheels to the scrap gondola,



they will be melted down for garden gnomes haha,



the next and as bad a thing to sort out is those traction tyres on locos, they seem to be very good at leaving goo everywhere and are the main cause of gearbox failure by either overloading a loco or the weight of the train pushing a stalled loco into an early retirement

Attached Image(s)

davecar


I have just started with g scale and I have bought rolling stock from various sources.
 
The new Bachmann trucks/coaches all have metal wheels. The new Pico have not. Also I bought several LGB on Ebay and they dont' have metal wheels.
 
I read on a forum that plastic wheels make the track harder to clean. should I start replacing my plastic wheels with metal wheels? Is it worth the cost?
 
Thanks,
 
Dave

Hi Dave

I would just like to say thanks for starting this thread, and all those that replied to it,
after reading all the comments I finally took the plunge and made the most of Steve (back2bay6) 15% off offer last weekend.  Cleared his shelves and van i think

Spent a day and half replacing the last of the plastic wheels with metal (Sore fingers or what)

Where as previously I had only used them to add weight and had not really given any though the state of the track or cleaning.

I have now run trains round for almost a complete week and not needed to clean the track
once.
Which has meant I gained nearly an extra 2 hours of play testing time
thats an extra 100 hours a year. (plus a cleaner track it really is brighter when I finish)

So in my book thats well worth the extra pennies all 10,000 of them    (till SWMBO sees the debit card receipt that is)

So again  Big Thanks chaps  

Rob s

Rob s

davecar


I have just started with g scale and I have bought rolling stock from various sources.

The new Bachmann trucks/coaches all have metal wheels. The new Pico have not. Also I bought several LGB on Ebay and they dont' have metal wheels.

I read on a forum that plastic wheels make the track harder to clean. should I start replacing my plastic wheels with metal wheels? Is it worth the cost?

Thanks,

Dave

Hi Dave

I would just like to say thanks for starting this thread, and all those that replied to it,
after reading all the comments i finally took the plunge a made the most of Steve (back2bay6) 15% off offer last weekend.  Cleared his shelves and van i think

Spent a day and half replacing the last of the plastic wheels with metal (Sore fingers or what)

Where as previously i had only used them to add weight and had not given any though
to track cleaning.

I have now run trains round for almost a complete week and not needed to clean the track
once.  Which has meant i got nearly an extra 2 hours of play testing time

So again  Big Thanks chaps  

Hi Rob
Hope you saved some for the rest of us

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Hi Richie

I really did empty his shelves and van, he is a really nice chap and makes a smashing
cup of coffee too. Not sure i thanked him for the coffee, so if you read this steve THANKS

He sorted out 1/2 a dozen little probs i had as well, and when i find my paper work and send him the part numbers he is prepared to try to get some other bits. TOP CHAP

I also picked up some second hand bits and bobs for really good prices, but the wheels were the dogs whats its really.

I am sure he will be able to get more stock in (probably)

Rob s

Hi all,
 
I am new to G scale and obviously new to this forum. When I made this post little did I know it would reach 73 posts.
 
I started in G Scale only last May and have made loads of mistakes, which has cost me money as well as time but I have found this forum very helpful and incredibly supportive.
 
Many thanks - I am beginning to learn about the complexities and frustrations of G scale as well as the joys.
 
Thanks again,
 
 
Dave

davecar


Hi all,
 
I am new to G scale and obviously new to this forum. When I made this post little did I know it would reach 73 posts.
 
I started in G Scale only last May and have made loads of mistakes, which has cost me money as well as time but I have found this forum very helpful and incredibly supportive.
 
Many thanks - I am beginning to learn about the complexities and frustrations of G scale as well as the joys.
 
Thanks again,
 
 
Dave

Hi Dave
I too only started trains in any scale in the last few years,
Some times fresh eyes and minds ask the simplist of questions
This one certainly made me think and after reading all the replies act.
So keep asking, they really are a nice bunch on here.
You have made a fantastic difference to my fun time
Thanks again

Rob s

davecar

I started in G Scale only last May and have made loads of mistakes, which has cost me money as well as time

Join the club, mate!  I've been doing this since 1998 and still find myself thinking "why didn't I do it this way to start with?!"   It's all part of the great outdoors experience, or that's what I tell myself....
 

but I have found this forum very helpful and incredibly supportive.

 
Thank you very much. It's nice to have that feedback. 

Chef Des Trains: Ruritanische Staatsbahn/ Uritán állami Vasutak/ Ruritanian Railways
Off the beaten track in Middle England (but worryingly close to Bromyard)