Any experiences with the Proses roller stands & cleaning accessories?

Yeh George, I bought a set some time ago, and I have been very happy with them,

I keep them on my workbench with a couple of spare MTH RailKing powered diesel trucks on them.

They sit on a long section of Buco brass track, and I can hook-up some leads to the track easily from my Buco transformer to test any analogue AC train engine.

The loco (no matter what size wheel/driver) just sits there spinning away, and it is also useful in identifying "buckled" wheels on the loco, as they will isolate on that particular roller bearing block.

Just keep an eye the "little brass nuts" on the base of the roller blocks that "lock" the blocks onto the 3 rail track.....they can come loose with pulling them off and on the test track, and can be easily lost. Don't ask me how I know.

Other than that one little thing, they work very well, and are considered value for the money they cost.

Peter......Buco Australia.

I don't know what you are talking about!

Only 2 out of 6 so far, I wonder if I could get replacements?

I have the powered railer- lays on a section of three-rail track and assists in properly railing your locos.  Helpful for steamers and for diesels.  It is $50 or so but I think it is worth having.    Very well made, works perfectly.

I use the Lionel plastic railer for cars, this for engines.  You can use on  a straight section of at least 3 feet or so, or can angle it up a little for use near a curve.  (use a wood block)

I've been using similar rollers for many years.  I built a little test track for steam testing since I do a lot of steam work.  The track elevates the tender to the level of the locomotive on the rollers allowing me to connect wireless and IR drawbars for full testing.  I got my rollers from JAK Engineering a long time ago, don't know if they're still around nowadays.

I built this years ago. I think I used the ones from Micromark. The front track slides back and forth to support the pilot truck and multiple length locos. .  I don’t own anything that long but you could easily increase the length.  I  used stock dimensional wood I had on hand.  Pieces of aluminum angle to support the rollers. I have a similar setup on a  wooden turntable that I use in the spray booth for weathering steamers.

Don't forget our domestic company, Micromark:  https://micromark.com/products...s-Assembled-Set-of-4

@CALNNC posted:

Don't forget our domestic company, Micromark:  https://micromark.com/products...s-Assembled-Set-of-4

Unfortubately these are currently sold our and NOT taking backorders.

@CALNNC posted:

Don't forget our domestic company, Micromark:  https://micromark.com/products...s-Assembled-Set-of-4

Domestic? ……

Pat

A question for those of you who own / use these:  Do you use any sort of solvent or cleaning liquid on the pads?  Or do you run them dry only?

George

Sorry George.....I completely overlooked your initial question......"how well do they clean the wheels?"

I was not aware Proses has released the rollers with cleaning pads. I knew they had rollers and cleaning pads for HO and N gauge trains, but was unaware they had released an O gauge model with a cleaning pad option.

Don't know how well the traction tires are going to hold up.

You may have to be the "Guinea Pig" here, and tell all of us how well (or otherwise) they work.

Looking forward to your "review".

Peter....Buco Australia.

I usually use a q tip on the wheels. I’m curious to as to the wheel cleaning and how it works. I thought my rollers were Micromark. But they could be the JAKS that are mentioned. I know they feature a fine scotchbrite pad that sits between the rollers to clean the wheels.

I've never had rollers with cleaning pads, I clean the wheels the old fashioned way.

@ogaugeguy posted:

Unfortubately these are currently sold our and NOT taking backorders.

A while back, I bought a couple packages of these, to make my own:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0824VSF74

While they supply the outside rail connection, just used a gator lead for the center roller on the loco

After waiting months for Micro mark to restock their rollers, it is time to pull the trigger on something. The bearings recommended by CALNNC look interesting, but I am feeling a bit lazy and leaning to Proses. This thread is four months old so I thought I would see if George or Peter or others had any updates on Proses.  These rollers seem to be the best candidates out there in the packaged unit category.  Peter seems to be the winner of the long-term user award from Proses.

Darrell, what is this picture about please? 

@Darrell posted:

I don't know what you are talking about!

Only 2 out of 6 so far, I wonder if I could get replacements?

The only problem on my 6 piece set was that as shown two of them lost one of the aligning blocks on the bottom. Not a big deal as I can super glue them back on if I could just find where I put them, LOL!

Anyone know who sells the  powered railer

@NYC 428.......Proses have them in stock at the moment, and can be purchased through Evilbay, where they advertise at lot. I bought one of their "powered railers" a couple of years ago, when they released them in O gauge, and find it great to get any of my articulated steam loco's on the track, but you do need a long straight section of track for them to work properly.

I have just looked at Proses web site again, and notice they are now selling the "wheel cleaning pads" with their roller stands. I didn't get the wheel cleaning blocks, as they had not been released when I purchased mine, and I just wonder how gentle they would be on drive wheels with traction tyres.

My 2 cents worth.

Peter.....Buco Australia.

Buco thanks for the reply, I will order one now.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I've never had rollers with cleaning pads, I clean the wheels the old fashioned way.

I too clean the old fashioned way, I have many different sized erasers that I use unless the corrosion is very bad. Then I use micro cleaning pads.