I'm restoring a early 736 engine I love the nickel rims of the 726 engines I want to replace the 736 wheels with the 726 nickel ones Is there any reason that doing this won't work?
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It will most likely negate the magnetraction. The 726 baldwin disc wheels with the nickle rim were zinc. Zinc does carry magnetism. Zinc doesn't wear well is why the rims were added. You also need to make sure that wheel shaft is the same size.
The 726 I believe did not have Magna Traction and the 736 does so I thing the materal for the wheels and axles may be different, With out additional research that is off the top on my febal brain.
Oh yea. Never thought of that Thanks
Another approach for you and much simpler.. and you can keep the magnetraction advantage for pulling power. I like the "look" of steel rims also. Years ago I kitbashed and altered a 2046 with magnetraction wheels and added detail parts (from an O scale Rivorossi Indiana Harbor Belt Kit.. The Indiana Harbor Belt kit gave me a "grafted in" more detailed cab, along with figures ,and other parts went on the boiler front and along the sides of the boiler. The headlamp was a Kemtron brass casting. All of this was done in the late 1970's before all the new detailed stuff came along. The cost was near zero and easy to do. A dremel motor tool was used to do the edges of the wheels while they were turning-depending on the pressure and the angle of approach- you can grind the edge wider or narrower. See the attached pictures for reference. PS> the scale coupler on the back of the tender with Walthers 3 wheel trucks and coupler "hooks/mates" well with the Lionel postwar coupler. Don't laugh- I have pulled 17 cars on level ground with this setup without a glitch!
Have fun on your project!
Glenn Spencer
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So @GrandpaChooChoo I don't understand... did you machine down the wheel diameter and press on metal rims? Or did you just burnish the edges of the existing powdered iron wheels? (At least one 1970s Hudson had wheel rims that were ground and polished. After that, Lionel-MPC switched to painted-on "whitewalls.")
Bob, I'm all in favor of modifying trains to make them unique and more realistic. But unless your Berkshire has worn bearings and needs a heavy overhaul, I wouldn't mess around with pulling wheels. The odds against getting them all back on "in quarter" without wheel cups are astronomical, and if you fail it'll run poorly. Just sell your 736 and put the proceeds toward a nice 726, there are plenty of them out there.
