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Unless GRJ has another source, Micro-Mark might be the only rollers left for O gauge these days? They are $59.95 (set of 4) regular price. Micro-Mark has 10-15-20% off sales every so often. They also have free shipping sales sometimes as well.  Here's a link  Sometimes they show up on ebay, but their prices can sometimes be out of sight! 

Last edited by rtr12

RTR Thanks! I know about Micro-Mark and almost bought a set when they were on sale not to long ago. But I didn't know if I was buying the right stuff. You know I am still a rookie at this train stuff, I just fumble along and sooner or later I get it right. But I have to be better at what I buy as some of my mistakes cost $$$! LOL

gunrunnerjohn posted:
Ahitpy posted:

Trainworld is taking backorders for Williams by Bachmann  roller base with wheel cleaners.  $159.99

Doesn't look like a 3-rail O-gauge product.

That's what I thought as well...but when I researched it, the 2 rail version is part number RR-O-01 and the 3 rail version is RR-O3-01.

We'll have to see when they come in.

I have and use a Lionel 5D tester. When testing I usually use the output leads attached to a roller stand. I rarely use the test track provided. The advantage of using a Lionel test stand is primarily in having the test procedures that Lionel provided.   These include specific pass/fail criteria for various parameters. The tests I find of most use are the for the whistle relay, both holding and closing DC voltages and the circuit breaker tests for the transformers.   I also make a lot of use of the lamp tester. 

mike g. posted:

RTR Thanks! I know about Micro-Mark and almost bought a set when they were on sale not to long ago. But I didn't know if I was buying the right stuff. You know I am still a rookie at this train stuff, I just fumble along and sooner or later I get it right. But I have to be better at what I buy as some of my mistakes cost $$$! LOL

I think the Micro-Mark rollers work OK on 3 rail O gauge, but as GRJ says, only one center pickup is included. I would try GRJ's suggestion about calling  JAK and asking for them. I have never seen any of their rollers, but they seem to be pretty well liked with those that do have them. 

I got some from what I think used to be Aristo-Craft (G sized trains)? I believe they may have reformed under a new name? Can't remember the name of the rollers or the company? Anyway, they seem to have come and gone since I got my rollers a few years ago. I'll see if I can find the name of the rollers and do some searching around.

As for the rookie stuff, I am still one of those myself! And I also have a few of those 'mistake' items in my collection! Took me a while to get going...and still happens occasionally.  Some of these are train items, but many of them are electronics related, errors on PCBs, wrong parts, wrong designs, oopses, occasional smoke releases (always order extra parts!), etc.  Those are all filed under the 'educational and training' expenses category.  

GRJ, You are definitely well beyond rookie status! More like teacher status to the rest of us around here.

Mike, the rollers I have were from Crest Electronics which seems to also be out of business now. I believe they were formerly Aristo-Craft before becoming Crest. Bacharus was another one that made rollers, but I just saw somewhere while searching that the owner retired and was no longer making rollers. Looks like Bachrus is now out of business as well.

Seems JAK or Micro-Mark is about all that's left for stand alone rollers at somewhat affordable pricing (less than $100 anyway).  

FWIW, I ordered a set of the Micromark rollers in January and built this test stand: 

Micromark rollers and new test stand

I purchased the O-gauge size and then changed the spacing between the roller frames to resize the gauge for my S-gauge locos.  I looked quickly to see what other rollers might be out there before buying the Micromark rollers, based on what others here at OGR have used, but I think Micromark is the only game in town that sells just the rollers and hardware.  It seemed like both Bachrus and Crest were no longer around and looking at the Jak website, I could not find a reference or link to rollers from them.

On the issue of the third rail pickup, it's "nothing more" () than a piece of 3/16 brass, 1.5 inches long and 19/32" tall (by my digital calipers) -- don't know why it couldn't be 9/16 or even 5/8 -- isn't the third rail roller contact spring loaded?  In the meantime, I'm happy to send one of you the one I'm not using - and for double the price, I'll include the plastic spacer that already has the hole drilled in it.  Contact me off list.

- Rich

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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