Roller bearings - O gauge

[Miserable]

Hi, does anyone know of a supplier of roller/taper bearings for use with Parkside etc wagon kits. I just fancy having a bash at loose shunting?

[decauville1126]

Might be worth a look:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10x-681ZZ-Miniature-Iron-Shield-Ball-Bearings-Wheel-For-Roller-Toy-Model-1x3x1mm/372503705520?hash=item56baf377b0:g:MWgAAOSwROldtpsr

 

A quick furkle around ebay should bring up something suitable sizewise once you've ascertained journal diameter, what diameter you can squeeze into the axlebox, and what width is available therein.

[Miserable]

Thanks for that. I was hoping that there would be something tried and tested (I'm sure someone used to do them?)  but all up for experimenting!

[Miserable]

I might have answered my own question - relevant questions asked, awaiting reply http://www.modelrailwayparts.com/parts.html

[Bucoops]

Found these but looks like the place you found may be cheaper (they likely buy in bulk) - https://www.bearing-king.co.uk/bearing/f681x-2z-budget-brand/6755/Peru

 

These have a flange on, if that is an issue or not.

[Miserable]

So this seems to be the score - Slaters have 1.75mm outer ends on the axles, and there simply aren't any suitable bearings available (in general, not just model railway). So the solution is to fit Peartree wheels (blackened steel, so a bonus anyway) with their roller bearing kit, which is what I'll do and see how it goes...

[Miss Prism]

What do you hope to achieve by fitting roller bearings?

 

[Miserable]

I want to see if realistic loose shunting can be achieved (probably with additional weight needed too with a plastic kit), just because really. Although I haven't room myself, hump shunting might be fun too.

[markjj]

Lubricate the bearings you have I doubt spending a fortune on roller bearings of any type will make any noticeable difference......

[markjj]

I forgot to add I have a slight tilt on my front room floor my Dapol HAA wagons no roller bearings fitted will happily roll along 4 yards of track without any persuasion..... 

[Miserable]

We'll see, that's the fun in experimenting, which is the real point. I got the idea from watching exhibition videos on Youtube and never seeing loose or hump shunting - it was great fun doing it on the real thing (if a little scary now and again) and was, after all, a fundamental of railway operation pre the demise of wagon-load.

[doilum]

I cannot remember who had them but I recall seeing some at Telford a couple of years ago. Weight might be the key factor in your experiment. Good luck I like the idea.

[airnimal]

If you want very smooth running have you tried PTFE bearings ?

My good friend has a small layout that has a siding on a very shallow incline that holds a brake van. He draws a train into the station and places the brake van in the siding which is held by a small catch. The train is run around and then he releases the catch and the brake van runs down the gradient to be in the correct position. 

When he built the brake van with normal top hat brass bearings the van would not roll far enought. 

We had both been shown many years ago a wagon made with PTFE bearings that when given a slight push it rolled around a test track without stopping for a long time. We were both impressed. 

So I built him a brake van with these bearings and the transformation was amazing. 

This brake van went more than 4 times further than any other wagon.

I think I obtained them from S & D models.

 

[O-Gauge-Phil]

Morning.  Who sells these PTFE bearings or what make?  

 

Thanks Phil

[DCB]

There were articles about PTFE bearings in the model press 50 odd years ago.  They relied on the axle diameter being reduced to a very small figure and were used where the sideframes were unable to cope with the sideways force inherent with pin point bearings, probably Peco wagons with their sprung axleboxes. I have an idea Pendon was mentioned. I have never tried them.  I have the opposite problem with pin point bearing coaches rolling along where they should stay put.  However with my thinking hat on, a red bobble hat, I thunk if they reduced the journal diameter to reduce friction I wonder if reducing the axle diameter where a pick up wiper makes contact would reduce friction.  That way you could have an onboard decoder and a servo to operate the van brakes.  Hang on a minute, every wagon could have its own decoder and servo.
What's the eMail of the patents office?

[airnimal]

O-Gauge-Phil, 

S & D models sell them. Listed on there web site at £7.50 for ten. 

But obviously they are closed at the moment.

Mike

[Miserable]

OK, that's a thought with PTFE. I'll get some (when I can) and try. In mean time I'll order some rollers and fit them to SR brake van kit (don't care if I wreck it), and then PTFE for he sand tippler as and when (which I do care if I wreck). Thanks guys.