Flange reduction surgery. LL SW7

[diezmon]

First time delving in.   

I pulled the wheels, chucked them in my pin vise, chucked that in my cordless drill, and slowly ground them down with a fine file. 

I'm a fan     three more SW9's to go.

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[mplsjct]

the newer SWs released by Walthers have smaller flanges, as well as brass worm gears.

[ryan_wilkerson]

the newer SWs released by Walthers have smaller flanges, as well as brass worm gears.

Are replacements available from Atlas or MTL?

[mplsjct]

not that I'm aware of.

[peteski]

not that I'm aware of.

It is an ex Life-Like model. I think MTL was buying complete chassis assemblies and Atlas has not re-run the Walthers version yet. So I would not expect them to carry spare chassis parts.  Brass worms which fit this model are available from Kato. Don't recall the specific part number, but if you search this  forum you should be able to find it (as I do recall the specifics being discussed on TRW in the past).

[diezmon]

It is an ex Life-Like model. I think MTL was buying complete chassis assemblies and Atlas has not re-run the Walthers version yet. So I would not expect them to carry spare chassis parts.  Brass worms which fit this model are available from Kato. Don't recall the specific part number, but if you search this  forum you should be able to find it (as I do recall the specifics being discussed on TRW in the past).

Yep, it's that thread that got me thinking about this.   I've always wanted to try reducing them myself.  Now that I know it's this easy, i'll keep going. 

I didn't get the idea that there were direct wheel replacements for these older units, or maybe i just missed in the wheel threads.

They're not bad runners.  Now that there's an (almost) plug-n-play decoder, and i have a better way to do the wheel power pickup strips, I've been converting them. 

[diezmon]

the newer SWs released by Walthers have smaller flanges, as well as brass worm gears.

Yep, good luck finding them though.  Well, they're out there, but the only real difference is the wheels, from what I've seen. 

[peteski]

While I haven't actually tried, it might be possible to get those niuce Kato low-profile narrow-tread replacement wheelsets, and swap them for  the Life-Like wheels.  The plastic Life_like axle tube with the gear is different than Kato, so the half-axles need to be swapped. I think the half-axle diameter is the same on both models. You might have to adjust the outside axle length on the Kato wheels, but that is not a big deal, and you end up with a decent model with great looking wheels.

[Jim Starbuck]

You’re using my preferred method of flange reduction. I’ve done several with good results.
Atlas wheelsets can be used as replacements using the stock Lifelike axle tubes.
The axle point length of the Atlas are slightly longer than the stock Lifelikes but will work. The longer point length will just crowd the gauge to the narrow side while still turning freely in the axle cups.
Kato wheelsets will work but the axle point length will need to be shortened. Peteski has an excellent post explaining how to do this.

[peteski]

Kato wheelsets will work but the axle point length will need to be shortened. Peteski has an excellent post explaining how to do this.

Yes, see my posts starting at https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33107.msg379288#msg379288 .

Replacing LL half axles with Katos is IMO the most painless (and not very expensive) way to do thus, and the wheels will look great. I also noticed that whatever metal Kato uses in their wheels does not seem to pic up dirt or oxidize as quickly as other brand wheels.

[diezmon]

Yes, see my posts starting at https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33107.msg379288#msg379288 .

Replacing LL half axles with Katos is IMO the most painless (and not very expensive) way to do thus, and the wheels will look great. I also noticed that whatever metal Kato uses in their wheels does not seem to pic up dirt or oxidize as quickly as other brand wheels.

I have some Kato wheel sets on the way, after reading that post the other day.  I like to try things out though, so I can have more than one way to skin the 🐈

[C855B]

While I haven't actually tried, it might be possible to get those niuce Kato low-profile narrow-tread replacement wheelsets, and swap them for  the Life-Like wheels.  The plastic Life_like axle tube with the gear is different than Kato, so the half-axles need to be swapped. I think the half-axle diameter is the same on both models. ...

Almost, apparently a manufacturing tolerance thing, differing by a thousandth or two. I did this on one of my SWs a couple of years ago and, IIRC, the fit was a touch loose. A spot of CA, or Loctite green or purple wouldn't be a bad idea since they were loose enough to push out of gauge in normal handling, such as re-railing.

[wazzou]

I have some Kato wheel sets on the way, after reading that post the other day.  I like to try things out though, so I can have more than one way to skin the 🐈

Document the install as that is on my not so short list.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Just sayin... I would pay good money for some of these.

[diezmon]

Just sayin... I would pay good money for some of these.

money = beer?