I put some of the Kato wheels in an IM SD40T-2 and they work and look great! The only thing is, while they're rolling great, the axle points seem like they're right up against the inside of the axle cups as opposed to being sort of free-floating like other wheels. This makes me somewhat concerned they might make wear marks or eventually even holes in the cups. I seem to recall discussion about shortening the axles, but the gauge is maxed-out at the narrow end already and I'm still not clear on how folks are accomplishing that. Also not sold on lube in the cups, as my experience with adding lube in conductive areas has been rather poor (yes, I've seem those pics of holes worn in axle cups...presumably caused by lack of lube).
Hi Russ,
Yes the axle points on the Kato wheels protrude out a little too far. Like you say they will fit but do engage in the axle cups a little too tightly when gauged correctly. I’ve quickly cobbled up an inexpensive axle press as per photos using a watch pin press. I’ve put an aluminum nail in the end instead of the supplied press pins and made a swift rest out of a piece of plastic pipe hanger with a hole in it for the wheel axle. The anvil of the watch pin press is not exactly perpendicular to the screw thus a piece of styrene strip was glued to the back of the pipe hanger to shim it. I will make something better with a block of hard wood soon, but hey, it works.
Just twist off the Kato wheel, place in the rest with the axle point facing the aluminum nail and screw in. Once hard up and seated then just gentle tighten the screw unit you hear the axle pop when it moves inward.
I’ve done a few now so I got the feel for it and don’t have to do a lot of vernier measuring anymore.
Got the watch pin press from EBay for about 3 bucks and free shipping from China.
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