I was looking at my "tool" for HO scale and wondered why there is no similar item for N scale? "The Tool" is a cylinder that has cutting surfaces on each end and is the length of an HO scale rolling stock axle. When placed into an HO scale truck and turned, it cleans out the journal boxes and makes the truck (bogie) roll so very much smoother. Maybe HO scale manufacturers are following standards for the trucks? Why not such a tool for N scale? Is a tool made for HOn3 or O guage?
hmm.... I;d call that a hobby knife, but the thing you descrivbe sure is a neat idea. One reason could be that the distance between the axle housings on N scale is too small to get fat finners into to rotate the tool
For HO Scalers, be careful when using "The Tool". I used it on my Rivarossi passenger car truck frames. Now the wheels won't stay in if I lift up the cars. It works great on Athearn side frames but no Rivarossi. David
I have made my own for HO, N and Nn3. I start with a spare metal wheel set with the axle length I want, remove the insulated wheel and grind a cutting flute into the point on the long end with a diamond cutoff wheel. In HO I use it to repair worn bearing holes on plastic side frames. I fill the worn hole with super glue and sprinkle baking soda into it to fill the gap. Then ream out the cone shaped cup again with the axle. In N it is good for opening things up to take a longer axle when replacing wheel sets. I do the same in Nn3. The Nn3 Microtrain freight trucks come with plastic wheels but are too narrow for metal Marklin wheels when I need to add power pickup for tenders and such.
If you can get the length right and the 60 degree cutting angle right (a drill bit is close - 58 degrees), you could turn the thing with fat fingers using a dental flossing device, (which is totally useless for its designed purpose anyway).
I'm guessing it's the Truck Tuner from Micromark. You're right, though. They only list them in HO scale. I love mine.
The HO tool is a center drill. Available where machine shop supplies are sold and some hardware stores. They come in many sizes.
