Help finding wheel sets

purple1 Feb 16, 2022

  1. purple1

    purple1 TrainBoard Member

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    I have been having some trouble finding metal wheel sets for Micro Trains trucks. I am using all code 55 Atlas track so I need the flanges to not be huge. But I just can't seem to find a good source for metal wheels that is not on backorder or out of stock.

    At first I was getting FVM 33" wheels, the I went with Exactrail 33" wheels. I liked the FVM's cause they come in different widths for MT's, Atlas and others. Now I'm just looking for wheels that fit MT's. But it seems everything is out of stock everywhere.

    Is it just me missing something? Is this a world wide wheel shortage, or some giant conspiracy?

    Please help me find wheels.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wheels seem to be in short supply. FVM has been out for a long, long time. I was using theirs, but finally tired of waiting. I went with some by Eastern Seaboard Models.
     
    Allen H likes this.
  3. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

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  4. platypus

    platypus TrainBoard Member

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    I had been looking for the 60 pack of metal wheels from MTL but all my regular places had been out so long I stopped checking.
     
  5. Kisatchie

    Kisatchie TrainBoard Member

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  6. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    Lately, my preferred metal wheels for MT trucks are from ESM. Man, do they roll smooth! And, I have not had one set wobble yet...which is more than I can say for some other brands I've tried. I have not tried the MT metal wheels yet.
     
  7. Traindork

    Traindork TrainBoard Member

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    It's a giant global conspiracy. Seems like out of about 7-8 manufacturers of N scale metal wheels, there's maybe one or two that will actually have any in stock at any time. It's a long slow process trying to convert my fleet.
     
  8. Ike the BN Freak

    Ike the BN Freak TrainBoard Member

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    I'm also in agreement with the ESM ones. Not a fan of the MTLs as they look to be cast, and ones I saw the casting was rough.
     
    Metro Red Line likes this.
  9. pmpexpress

    pmpexpress TrainBoard Member

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    Readily available from a number of different vendors, while they are not offered in bulk packs, I lean towards the Eastern Seaboard Models wheel-sets.

    When they are in stock, the ExactRail .540" and the Tangent Scale Models .537" axles length wheel-sets are also great upgrade options for Micro-Trains trucks.
     
  10. purple1

    purple1 TrainBoard Member

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    @pmpexpress I looked at Tangent Scale Models .537" wheel sets, but they only have 36" wheel sets and I need 33".
     
  11. wpsnts

    wpsnts TrainBoard Supporter

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    There are some listed on the unmentionable site.
     
  12. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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    now you have me wondering who this is.
     
  13. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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    What's the difference between 33" and 36" wheels? - Scratch that I see it's diameter.

    My question is how do you know which size your stock has?

    I just calipered my bachmann metal wheels and they are 6.5mm in diameter.

    I also did the same on my Poe Micro Trains cars - 5.5mm plastic wheels.

    I think this changing out of trucks and wheels is going to be interesting on my Bachmann pieces.
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2022
  14. wpsnts

    wpsnts TrainBoard Supporter

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    I wish that I were better at math. There is a formula for converting mm's to N scale inches, I just don't know it. I bet that there are many folks on this board that would know.
    Given the fact that there is a 3" difference between 33 and 36 I wouldn't be surprised if your Bachmann wheels are a scale 36" and your MT's are a scale 33". Don't rely on my guess though.
    Being this is N scale it would be tough to tell the difference once mounted on the model. Now if you are entering it into a prototype modeling contest...
     
  15. purple1

    purple1 TrainBoard Member

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    I got some ESM wheel sets ordered.

    I'm sure there is some rule as to what size wheels are to be used on what rolling stock. I think the general rule is over 90 tones and passenger cars get 36" wheels and older lighter cars use 33" wheels. Maybe someone that knows for sure can chime in here.
     
    Kisatchie likes this.
  16. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

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    mm x 160 / 25.4 = N scale inches
    Those scale out to 41" and 34.6."
     
  17. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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    If I caliper the lower diameter flange, the part that rides the rails, I get 5.3mm which is 33.3"

    I was calipering the greatest diameter on the wheel.
     
  18. wpsnts

    wpsnts TrainBoard Supporter

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    I knew it was something fairly simple. I just don't have good math skills.
     
  19. Christopher Lee

    Christopher Lee TrainBoard Member

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    E94B5D80-98A8-4F04-87B0-8A170A3BDC4F.jpeg OK so it looks like my Micro Trains are are:
    .54 axel length and 5mm in diameter the smaller diameter spot - the flanged area. BUT that gives me 31.3~"

    NOT 33 or 36.
     
  20. purple1

    purple1 TrainBoard Member

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    It seem as if nothing in N scale is ever 100% true to scale. And that anything close is close enough.
     
    Christopher Lee likes this.

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