Any one have any suggestions for an inexpensive wheel puller. The ones on ebay
are outrageous and if you look on the internet it just gets way too out of hand.
Thanks, John
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If you are talking about Postwar/Prewar type wheels, you might consider a sink faucet puller, which sell in the $10 dollar range, at Lowe’s or Home Depot. It may need some grinding or filing down to get the jaws thin enough to get between the frame and back side of wheel, but it does work. I’ve used it on a few occasions. Olsen’s Toy Train Parts have theirs as a Set for around $38, but one of the Set is exactly the faucet puller.
Go to the train tender. Look at the standard gauge wheel puller. It might be what you want.
NWSL (northwest shortline) used to sell them (not sure if they still do).
http://shop.osorail.com/category.sc?categoryId=15
I have an HO one and I thought they made an O gauge one, also.
I'm assuming you want an O gauge one.
A cheap option would to put some metal across an open vise to hold the wheel and then use a center punch to knock out the axle. Would want to have the cross across the wheel to be right next to the axle to prevent damage to the wheel.
Might want to browse through a harbor freight store: they often have tools that are not always found and cost effective (ie cheap!).
When using them, for steam engines, I always put a mark across the driver and axle so they go back together again without worrying about being properly quartered.
ps: I always hate when people tell you to go to a web site and, then, don't provide a 'click' to it!
Timko makes an interesting puller. There have been other threads on pullers that describe it and several similar ones offered by other companies. A quick search should find one or more. Here is a fairly recent one:
https://ogrforum.com/...-wheels-from-a-motor
needs a little grinding to get under the wheels, but under $10 at most parts stores.
As others mentioned, I use a hardware store faucet handle puller. The ears that go under the wheels needed to be ground down, as well as the stud that pushes on the axle. I think mine was about $8 or so.
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One thing to remember is old drivers on old engines may be fragile so pressure on the outer rims could cause them to crack.
My HO wheel puller has a slot in the metal so the full wheel is in contact with the surface.
I use the Timko puller, works great.
