Peartree Engineering vs Slaters wheels

SteadyRed

SteadyRed

Western Thunderer
I need to order some 3'1" 3 hole wagon wheels (FS) and the Peartree product looks a good alternative to Slaters.

Purely looking at cost the Peartree wheels are £8 per two axles as posed to £9.25 for Slaters, OK not a big saving but better in my pocket.

Any gotchas I need to be aware of?

Dave
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Slater's wheelsets use pin-points to the axle ends / bearings. Peartree appears to use plain/ parallel journals for axles and bearings with a domed end to the axle.

Each wheelset has tyres / disc insulated from the axle - Slater's utilises nylon for the body of the wheel whilst Peartree uses a steel wheel disc with an insulating bush for the axle... the bush is thin wall and projects beyond the face of the boss, I feel that this thin wall bush might wear with side loads and hence a short might occur with brass underframes.

If I have a choice then I shall continue to use Slater's wheels.
 
ZiderHead

ZiderHead

Western Thunderer
One thing to consider - Peartree wheelsets come already blackened so no worries about rusting tyres when building with aggressive fluxes.
 
Oz7mm

Oz7mm

Western Thunderer
If you need plain disc wheels, have a look at those produced by North West Short Line. remember to convert from 1:48. Already blackened and available with plain or pinpoint axles.

I use their 3' wheels to P48 profile as 2'9" S7 wheels. Unassembled they are $13.75 per 4 axles, plus VAT if HMRC intercepts them.

Just a bit of lateral thinking.

John
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Happy with either and not sure about the wear issue with the Peartree insulating bush (it's acetal, e.g. Delrin so not hugely likely to wear).

Also worth noting that M&M wheels appear to be Peartree and come with miniature ball races - if that's your 'thing'.

Steph
 
oldravendale

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
I've used Haywood Railway coach and wagon wheels for some years now, always with success. They have parallel journals but are also ready blackened.

Only mentioning as a satisfied user.

Brian
 
SteadyRed

SteadyRed

Western Thunderer
Phill Dyson said:
Shouldn't real modellers forge their own steel & then turn their own......

RTR wheels !!! ...surely not? :)
Click to expand...

That must be where I am going wrong.

Now where is that shopping list....

iron ore
limestone
florspar
coal for turning into coke, for use in my blast furnace
blast furnace
experience blast furnace operator
Bessemer converter
experienced converter operator....


You get the idea.

Think I will outsource that bit to India or China :(


Thanks everybody for your answers, even the tongue in cheek ones.


Dave
 
Mike W

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Please does anyone know what diameter axles Peartree use for their diesel loco wheels?

Website doesn't say and he may be away as no reply to phone calls this week.

Mike
 
D G Williams

D G Williams

Active Member
an insulating bush for the axle... the bush is thin wall and projects beyond the face of the boss, I feel that this thin wall bush might wear with side loads and hence a short might occur with brass underframes.
Click to expand...
If the projecting part of the bushes wear you might try insulating the wheel hub from the brass underframe with red fibre washers. Eileen's Emporium sell them.
Hope this is of use.
David.
 
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