Slaters 1615WD 1'3" 7 Curly Spoke Wagon Wheels

[DafyddElvy]

I am looking to use slaters 1615WD 1'3" 7 Curly Spoke Wagon Wheels normally supplied on axles with a 3mm shoulders, but to use with axles for gauge 1 45mm gauge which have a 3.2mm (1/8") shoulder.

Can anyone using the 1'3" 7 Curly Spoke Wagon Wheels please advise if reaming out the wheel to take a 3.2mm shouldered axle is a feasible option, thanks?

 

[Paul M]

I am looking to use slaters 1615WD 1'3" 7 Curly Spoke Wagon Wheels normally supplied on axles with a 3mm shoulders, but to use with axles for gauge 1 45mm gauge which have a 3.2mm (1/8") shoulder.

Can anyone using the 1'3" 7 Curly Spoke Wagon Wheels please advise if reaming out the wheel to take a 3.2mm shouldered axle is a feasible option, thanks?

Can't see why not, as long s you're careful and don't make the hole too big

 

[PhilP]

Would it not be easier (cheaper, if got wrong) to alter the axle-shoulder?

I would think you could turn the axle in a drill-chuck (if no lathe) and gently use a file..

PhilP

 

[dunnyrail]

I would certainly table caution. Those middles between axles and tires are some kind of plastic so any widening of holes should be done slowly and with great care. I have had some of these a few decades back and had issues with the steel tires falling off, hopefully their current production procedures preclude this issue. But again chucking the tires in a lather or drill could be troublesome.

 

[Rhos Helyg Loco Works]

I'd reduce the diameter of the axle using the drill + file method. Axles are cheaper than wheels!

 

[DafyddElvy]

My thought was to open out the wheel centre using a 1/8" reamer, no drills because in my hands a drill wouldn't give a true parallel hole.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Rhinochugger]

My thought was to open out the wheel centre using a 1/8" reamer, no drills because in my hands a drill wouldn't give a true parallel hole.

Thanks for all the advice.

I've cheated in similar circumstances by building up the axle outside the wheel with brass tube (if you can get the required diameter

The 'Yeti' runs on this arrangement in Slater's sprung axle boxes

 

[dunnyrail]

My thought was to open out the wheel centre using a 1/8" reamer, no drills because in my hands a drill wouldn't give a true parallel hole.

Thanks for all the advice.

A reamer is not really a tool to open out a hole, a drill does that. If you start with a taper reamer to get it going then continue with the 1/8 you may manage.

 

[DafyddElvy]

A reamer is not really a tool to open out a hole, a drill does that. If you start with a taper reamer to get it going then continue with the 1/8 you may manage.

My understanding, and I'm not always correct, was that a broach is used to roughly enlarge a hole, but to ensure a hole is of an accurate diameter a reamer was the tool of preference, I have always drilled holes 0.1-0.2mm (0.2mm for this ham fisted drill operator) undersize and finished of with a reamer to give a smooth finish in something like a bearing.

When building a loco chassis I always clean out axle bearings with a reamer after painting and this method hasn't let me down, have I been doing the wrong thing all these years

 

[dunnyrail]

My understanding, and I'm not always correct, was that a broach is used to roughly enlarge a hole, but to ensure a hole is of an accurate diameter a reamer was the tool of preference, I have always drilled holes 0.1-0.2mm (0.2mm for this ham fisted drill operator) undersize and finished of with a reamer to give a smooth finish in something like a bearing.

When building a loco chassis I always clean out axle bearings with a reamer after painting and this method hasn't let me down, have I been doing the wrong thing all these years

Yes that is correct, a drill does not make the best of holes say for a loco chassis. The same size reamer makes it good. I think I have also heard a reamer called a broach but then perhaps you have helped me learn as well. Never too old to learn.

 

[DafyddElvy]

Yes that is correct, a drill does not make the best of holes say for a loco chassis. The same size reamer makes it good. I think I have also heard a reamer called a broach but then perhaps you have helped me learn as well. Never too old to learn.

Yeh, I've gone and got something correct.

I learn some think new a few times a week on this forum, if we don't learn we cannae move forward, thanks.