In a message dated 4/8/2006 6:46:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,
STMFC@... writes:
Wheel sets from Reboxx with longer axles would take up some of that
side-to-side slack but is that important?
Yes, and the coupler centering will be improved. You'll also find that
there's no "drop" of the axle-wheelset when the car is lifted off the track. You may
also find, as did I, that when ReBoxx sets of proper lengths are installed
the need for the shim washers to achieve correct coupler height may no be
needed, as well.
Given the cone shape of the bearing and axle tip, wouldn't the axles tend to
be self-
centering?
No, it doesn't work quite that way, though that's a facile notion embraced by
many. Rolling is improved by having the minimum surface of the axle cone in
contact with the [admittedly] poor internal bearing cone of the side frame. The
sideframes should be cleaned out with the ReBoxx (or similar) tool in
preparation for changing out the wheels.


Has anyone ever replaced the wheel sets in old Central Valley
trucks? I guess one would drill out the rivet (or rivets in the case
of six wheel trucks)
Some care must be taken with six-wheel trucks...........so the sideframes
don't fall apart. I wrap some vinyl tape around the sideframes while I'm drilling
and tapping for the new screws for re-assembly.
and replace the rivet with a small machine
screw.
Yes, it's fairly easily done..........
Is this worth doing from an operational point of view?
Absolutely, and the rolling qualities are vastly improved; -- enough so that
I sometime find it necessary to drill a tiny hole in the truck bolster to
insert a single whisker of a nylon hairbrush, just to add enough rolling
resistance so the "re-wheeled" CV truck don't drift on perfectly less than dead level
track!
Is it worth doing for appearance given that passenger car trucks are
usually less visible from the end that are freight car trucks?
As above................it's well worth doing.

Mal Houck