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EM gauging an Oxford Rail 6-wheel Toad


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So my Oxford Rail 6-wheel GWR brake van arrived today. First action, find the Wizard EM wheels that had arrived a few days before.

 

Having found them, take toad out of its packing and invert it. Pop the OO wheels out and put to one side. Take out the first axle of Wizard EM wheels and pop them in place.

 

Consternation ensues! For some inexplicable reason Oxford Rail have decided to use a non-standard, longer axle length!.

 

Caveat emptor! The model can’t be converted from OO to EM or P4 simply by changing the wheels and axles. I will now have to find a wheel puller to swap the OO wheels for the EM ones on the Oxford Rail axles

 

Oh bu**er

 

Tim T

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So my Oxford Rail 6-wheel GWR brake van arrived today. First action, find the Wizard EM wheels that had arrived a few days before.

 

Having found them, take toad out of its packing and invert it. Pop the OO wheels out and put to one side. Take out the first axle of Wizard EM wheels and pop them in place.

 

Consternation ensues! For some inexplicable reason Oxford Rail have decided to use a non-standard, longer axle length!.

 

Caveat emptor! The model can’t be converted from OO to EM or P4 simply by changing the wheels and axles. I will now have to find a wheel puller to swap the OO wheels for the EM ones on the Oxford Rail axles

 

Oh bu**er

 

Tim T

 

That's the Oxford Rail we know and love!

Short, long, it's all the same to them.

 

Mike.

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Forgive my ignorance but I thought EM used OO profile wheels - can the existing ones not just be re-gauged? My experience with replacing Hornby wagon wheel axles (with brass ones) is that the wheels have rubber/plastic centres for insulation and that they grip very well on the new axles.

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Forgive my ignorance but I thought EM used OO profile wheels - can the existing ones not just be re-gauged? My experience with replacing Hornby wagon wheel axles (with brass ones) is that the wheels have rubber/plastic centres for insulation and that they grip very well on the new axles.

There are standards for EM wheels, one of which is the thickness, 2.3mm, also the flange depth, 0.6mm. The OR wheels are 2.8mm thick with flanges 1.1mm deep so do not meet the standrd. Having measured the distance betwen the axle gurds simply spreding the wheels is theoreticlly possible. I will have to try it and see.

 

Tim T

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Nice idea but I dont have a 2mm drill that is short enough?

 

You could always try my "rough arsed Yorkshireman" method and bend the axleguards outwards to allow a full length drill to access the inside, although there is a special tool available via the EMGS stores to do it without resorting to violence.

It depends, of course, on the flexibility of the plastic, I get away with with it with Hornby and Bachmann, but have not tried it with Oxford Rail.

 

Mike.

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There are standards for EM wheels, one of which is the thickness, 2.3mm, also the flange depth, 0.6mm. The OR wheels are 2.8mm thick with flanges 1.1mm deep so do not meet the standrd. Having measured the distance betwen the axle gurds simply spreding the wheels is theoreticlly possible. I will have to try it and see.

Tim T

Ok, I note that the Alan Gibson range of loco wheels are either OO/EM (with both length axles) or P4. They do sell EM wagon and coach wheels but this refers to the gauge as they are already mounted on the axles.
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You could always try my "rough arsed Yorkshireman" method and bend the axleguards outwards to allow a full length drill to access the inside, although there is a special tool available via the EMGS stores to do it without resorting to violence.

It depends, of course, on the flexibility of the plastic, I get away with with it with Hornby and Bachmann, but have not tried it with Oxford Rail.

 

Mike.

Mike that will only exacebate the problem as the OR axles are longer than Wizard/Gibson ones!

 

Tim T

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So, plan b.

Make a plastic card spacer to fit inboard of the w iron and set the bearing into that?

 

Mike.

(God loves a trier!).

Mike, this sounds like a feasible way forward but I’ll only do the two outer axles, allowing the middle axles to float.

 

Tim T

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Sounds drastic, perhaps a rocking W iron for P4 with inside bearings (pin-points removed).....but surely re-gauging the existing wheels or swapping the new wheels to the old axles is the simplest solution for EM.

 

Re-wheeling may seem the easiest option, but as stated above, 2mm seems to be a flexible dimension in the world of OR.

 

Mike.

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  • 1 month later...

Sorry, just found this thread so a little tardy ! ......... though re-wheeling is the least problem on this model it's quite simple given enough hands ! - use WAISTED bearings with standard Gibbo wheelsets : these drop into the Oxford bearing holes but are a real pig to retain ( unless glued ) while you manoeuvre the axle in. [ I didn't have a lot of bearings to hand so just fitted for the outer axles and put Gibbo wheels on the Oxford axle for the middle - plenty of sideplay ! ] ............................................. now, I've still got plenty of other work to do before the thing goes into traffic !

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