Hello What wheel size should I use to replace the original ones on some Bachmann freight cars? Thanks
Bachmann has a parts department, if you catch them open they can help. Bachmann parts 267-297-2494 They have a forum, but the N scale section is pretty moribund.
Use a pair of calipers to measure the following on your Bachmann freight cars: Diameter of the wheels just outside of the radius of the flange Distance between the axle ends Look up the brand(s) of replacement wheels with which you are interested in replacing the Bachmann wheel sets. Micro-Trains generally provides the axle & wheel diameter dimensions for each of their wheel sets Fox Valley generally provides the axle dimensions for each of their wheel sets Things to note: Your freight cars are likely 33" scale diameter, so they likely are around 0.205". If you use a different size wheel than those with which your freight cars came, it may adversely affect your coupler heights. The axle length dimension is critical: too short and they will fall out, too long and they won't fit. And, no, Moose no have these dimensions for Bachmann freight car wheels.
Well, your wheels are probably 33” or 36”. Your best bet is to measure them with a micrometer or calipers, and contact FVM or MTL with that diameter in-hand, and they should be able to set you up.
My caliper is in mm (well, I'm French !!!)....I measure the axle length (end to end) at 14.26mm, which is 0.561" Diameter (assuming I measure where I should - see picture) is 5.5mm which is 0.216"
@french_guy You're sketch does not make sense as it appears to measure the distance between the outside of the wheel faces. Diameter should be for the wheel height. Those are wide! A ~ 0.216" diameter would be 33" scale size which makes sense since they are freight cars. Does NOT appear that Micro-Trains makes any that wide: https://www.micro-trains.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=104_105 https://www.micro-trains.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=104_179 It looks like Fox Valley might make ones that might fit: http://www.foxvalleymodels.com/wheelsets.html You might consider replacing the whole truck and wheels with Micro-Trains ones as an option to trying to find wheel replacements. Have no idea what to suggest if you try to do this as Moose no have experience with Bachmann freight cars.
Ooops......I realized I have it wrong (was doing 2 things at the same time) This is how I measured the diameter
@french_guy Yes, it appears that you did measure correctly... Hopefully you can find some place to purchase the correct size wheel sets. Just did a quick internet search for FVM 3303 (N 33" Wheels .563 Axle 12 Pk), and could not find any available.
Are the couplers on the Bmann cars truck mounted? If so check Micro Trains web page where they list the truck replacement by manufacturer. I have replaced a lot of the Bachmann trucks with Micro Trains trucks over the years. If the Bachmann trucks are mounted on a peg and held by a screw there is an easy trick to get the MT trucks over the mounting peg. That is to simply ream out the mounting hole on the MT trucks slightly so they fit over the Bachmann peg and use the same screw to secure.
The pictures below show the car I'm talking about It came with Rapido couplers, so I replaced the trucks by Bachmann trucks with E-Z Mate couplers I had laying around. As you can see, it attahches with a screw and not a push pin Certainly not as good as MTL trucks/couplers, but like I said....I had them And the pictures of the wheel set is to show why I'm looking for a replacement
