wheel back to backs in ho

[bluedepot]

hi everyone

 

could someone please direct me to a correct back to back gauge for ho scale for sale?  (a uk seller if possible). 

 

this is just for normal modern stock and locos with rp25 wheels running on either peco, roco or tillig code 75, 83 or 100 track... 

 

also can you adjust the back to backs on a tank engine slightly, or do the coupling rods / valve gear impinge on this making it a bad idea to try it? i have an 0-6-0 which has a lot of sideways movement on the track and sometimes loses good power pick up.  i appreciate it needs some sideways movement but it seems excessive.  the light flickers a bit as well. im not familiar with model steam locos - this is my only one in ho scale. 

 

 

cheers 

 

 

tim

[Dungrange]

According to the NMRA website (https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/s-4.2_2019.01.04.pdf), the recommended back to back dimension for American H0 is 14.55 mm with tolerances of +0.05 mm and -0.18 mm.  That therefore means that the back-to-back should be in the range 14.37 mm to 14.60 mm.

 

You should therefore be okay with any 00 scale back-to-back gauge.

 

The one sold by the 00 gauge association (http://www.doubleogauge.com/shop.htm) is 14.4 mm, but you need to make sure that you specify the 'intermediate' rather than the 'finescale' standard, as the later is 14.8 mm.  That one is designed for commercial UK stock, which generally has wheels that comply with RP25/110, which is also the recommended profile for American H0.

 

Many other 00 gauge back to back gauges are 14.5 mm, which is the preferred back to back for 'kit' wheels, which have a slightly narrower flange than RP25/110 - ie they are closer, I believe, to RP25/88 than RP25/110.  Google should throw up plenty of suppliers of back to back gauges at 14.5 mm - just make sure you don't buy one marked as 'finescale'.

[readingtype]

12 hours ago, bluedepot said:

can you adjust the back to backs on a tank engine slightly

 

You can tweak any loco as long as you don't expect to get a refund from the manufacturer when something breaks ;-)

 

I doubt it is a good idea to change the back to back on the loco's axles ( this is very likely to get you into trouble on pointwork). It might help with reliable power collection, I though doubt that. A cure is most likely to be a question of checking the pickups are clean and make contact with all wheels, whether the axle is slid to one side or the other.

 

The ultimate option is to re-wheel, and for this your best bet with H0 is to send the loco to a specialist and reckon on spending comfortably over EUR 100 as the wheels cannot usually be bought separately (unlike for UK scales) and the work is far better done by someone who does it day in, day out and has the benefit of the experience and tools. I have used the only such person I know of, who is in Germany. It's a matter of how you want to spend your money -- more models or nicer running and better looking ones.

 

Ben

 

 

[bluedepot]

thanks dungrange and ben! 

 

i will buy a 14.5mm back to back gauge. thanks for the info on this. 

 

i don't think i will mess with the tank engine wheels then! i know with diesels you can sometimes just push the wheels apart, but of course steam locos are more complicated.  probably i will replace it with something better in the future, a loco with sound / smoke / and a stay alive... 

 

cheers for your help on this

 

 

tim