I am converting a 3rd rail tender to use err. Since the tender shell does not lend itself to isolate it from the frame I am looking for insulated wheels. Any suggestions where I might find new trucks or wheels?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Why doesn't the shell lend itself to isolation? I've done quite a few of these, and I always use the insulated shell technique.
I have seen some brass TMCC locomotives with the trucks insulated from the frame, that might be easier than insulated wheels. I don't know of any insulated hi-rail pizza cutter wheels, insulated wheels are normally 2-rail scale wheels.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I don't know of any insulated hi-rail pizza cutter wheels, insulated wheels are normally 2-rail scale wheels.
Some of the 3rd Rail steam locomotive tenders came with wheels that are insulated from the axles. My PRR Q1 came that way. There are wipers that rub on the back of the wheels to pick up outside rail power. These wipers are insulated from the tender trucks themselves.
If Don has a Vanderbilt tender, I can see why he's looking for insulated wheels.
Don, e-mail me (address in my profile). I may have a source for you.
Some of the less expensive MPC freight cars came with plastic wheels.
Now, that would be one ugly option! 
Don't forget that the drawbar and coupler would also have to be insulated. Also, are any of the electronics dependent on the tender frame for additional ground pickup to supplement the engine wheel ground?
Jim
Yep, 3rd Rail had some insulated drawbar pins for that purpose. The same for the coupler.
I've never seen an issue with the tender needing any ground besides the wheels, and I can't imagine what scenario that would be. The ground reference, after all, is the track outside rail.
I've never tried to use any of the methods except for isolating the tender shell. I have worked on Weaver and 3rd Rail stuff that had the trucks and drawbar isolated, but I didn't have to actually do that myself.
The only exception has been tinplate upgrades, I've done a couple of those. I ended up having to use all the handrails on the tender for the antenna, and I made them from nickel wire so I could solder to them and insulated them from the tender shell with clear heatshrink where they entered the shell. It was a royal PITA, so I'd rather float the tender shell wherever possible. 
gunrunnerjohn posted:I've never seen an issue with the tender needing any ground besides the wheels, and I can't imagine what scenario that would be. The ground reference, after all, is the track outside rail.
John,
I was just thinking that with the tender wheels out of the equation, depending on the engine, ground pickup might be poor if only the engine were picking up ground what with traction tires and little weight on lead and trail truck wheels limiting engine ground.
Jim
If all the tender wheels were insulated and not electrically connected to the board, there's no reason for the tender frame to be grounded. That's why the discussion of wipers and allowances for the tender wheels to be electrically connected to the boards in the tender.
I converted a tinplate 250/350 Hiawatha loco and used the catwalk on the tender top for an antenna.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Now, that would be one ugly option!
Not to mention that they abrade as they roll and leave deposits on the rails. Bad enough that traction tires are doing that also. j
RoyBoy posted:I converted a tinplate 250/350 Hiawatha loco and used the catwalk on the tender top for an antenna.
No catwalk on the ones I've converted. 
