JAK Tool roller blocks still around?

Not sure if they have gone out of business or no longer doing retail ?

Here are some that I had found in late December helping out another hobbyist.

Here's a few, some fancier than others  and some more expensive than others:

http://www.micromark.com/O-GAU...D-SET-OF-4,8530.html

http://collectorschoicetrains.com/rollertestunit.htm

http://railroadgalaxy.ecrater....perating-roller-base

http://www.bachrus.com/runningstands.php

Company is still around but the sections of the web site related to model-hobby are toast.  They may have bowed out of that aspect of their business.

Does anyone else make a similar product?

The MicroMark looks to be a copy or maybe manufactured by Jak. The Bachrus looks similar but superior. The small trouble with the Jak rollers is that for a light engine, like the docksider, the center rail contact tends to lift the engine and it can get a little wobbly.

I can't figure out the Railroad Galaxy...how it adjusts, etc.

Call them and ask here is the number. 609.664.2451

The MicroMark looks very similar, but the solid center contact is different than the JAK rollers I have.  I want to add another set for larger locomotives and also to keep the tender connected when working on stuff with a wireless tether.

Yes, I wondered it the MicroMark were the same dimensions so the height was the same as the original Jak. That block on top would probably work the same as the Jak if it's the same height everywhere. Costs $60 to find out

Actually the center block makes more sense than the springy Jak think on the top.

I just bought a set of 4 at York in October.  They work ok and have the large metal block to contact the center roller.  They were $40 I believe.  I got them in the brown or purple hall where the one vendor sells all sorts of tools.  There are 4 stands but the center contact block is only on one.  Might need more rollers for the really large engines, I have only run a Pacific and several diesels on them.  

Great thread Chuck,

I've been interested in getting a set of these roller's also. Lots of good info here. !!!

Thanks,

Alex

I was thinking the same thing.

Glad we bought 3 sets when they were around ... very handy for bench-running Coal Turbine, etc.  JAKs are best I think ...

I have the Micro-Mark set of rollers and they work great. I need to get another set, as 4 just don't seem to be enough for the steam engines. Plus it would be nice to have 2 of them with the center pick up tab.

I have a set of the JAK rollers, but I'd also like another set.  I just ordered the Micromark ones, we'll see how they do with the JAK blocks.

I've got a message in to the Bachrus folks. Hoping that their system is still available.

John

I'm interested in your test results from Micromark, please advise what you find out when you get them. Looks like Laidoffsick is happy with them.

Larry

If they match the height of the JAK blocks, they'll work for me.

A new JAKROLLERS web site will be back up soon at jakrollers dot com.  The JAK products can be purchased over the phone with the number listed on the web site. 

Jeff

That's good to know Jeff, thanks.

I have a bunch of the MicroMark ones and they seem more than sufficient.  I've used them with the docksider and light locos like a plysmouth switcher and have not had any problems with the central rail lifting.  

The only problem, if you can call it that, that I have is with truly big locos you have to think hard and sometimes experiment a bit about which wheels to support: the blocks are large enough that you sometimes cannot get one under every wheel particularly on tenders, and they don't really do much good under blind drivers, etc.  So I have to think a bit about how to arrange the ones I do put down do they both support, say, an articulated loco evenly and with good balance, and make good electrical contact, and keep it in place well.   

I'm thinking of trying the MicroMark if John finds them to have the same height. The other ones that look good are the Bachrus. I have the JAK and they are good, but a little wobbly as I said. I like the way the Bachrus holds a tender. These other roller designs could make a tender support the same way...maybe even a Bachrus tender support (they call them stirrups)  would have the proper height for a JAK set.

I may be wrong - but I THINK the JAK Roller Block is the same as Rollers for Stationary Operations.  About 5 years ago I bought a set of four, one with a center rail power block for my test bench.  I use them frequently.  Purchased at the York Show from Polk's Hobby.  p/n PLK-50101  for )-Gauge 3 Rail.

I confess that sometimes I run a clip lead to a pickup and not bother with the center roller contact.  I found as Chuck has that really light stuff has a problem with the JAK roller contact.

Too late Jeff, I bought a set from MicroMark.  I'd have rather gotten another set of JAk blocks, but I thought you guys were gone.

Let us know if they match...

Any report on the match with Jak?

Funny you should ask, they came today.  I'd say they're about 1/16" lower than the JAK blocks at the rollers when on the track.

GRJ,

If you don't want the ones from MicroMark, let me know and I'll buy them from you. I don't have any yet so it doesn't matter.

Hmmm...probably ok for the tender, or pilot/trailing truck.

I think I'll take you up on that.  I could probably use them, but now that I know that JAK is still around, I'd like to just get a matching set.

So I guess one has to call them. I don't see anything on the Jak website yet.

...for which I'd use some old spark plug gap shims to accurately measure the difference as you've pictured.  Then I'd get some appropriate metal stock...aluminum, stainless steel,....brass as a last resort...and put a couple of strips on the bottom of the MM rollers that sit on the outside rails to bring them up to matching height. 

Of course, getting additional matching JAKS rollers would be the no-brainer.

Whatever floats the boat...

Since the JAK blocks are still available, I'm going to sell these (already have) and buy another set of the JAK blocks.  That way I can dispense with all the additional mechanical work.

My Bachrus set arrived today. Just looking at the system, all I can say is that the set is top of the line and very professionally done. I'm a little under the weather today, so, I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.

The peanut packaging is impressive too, but, that's another thread.

I tried to order Bachrus, but they were out of the rollers. I thought about just getting the rails and center pickup for the tender and using the JAK I have for the loco. But then I don't know what the height would be from the JAK to the Bachrus rails.

Hmmm, I just ordered mine last week.

Speaking of roller stands,

I wonder which Pennsy-O-phile will be the first one to model the PRR's Altoona Locomotive Test Stand?

Huh. I ordered the o gauge kit, 2 extra rollers and the long stirrup. They said end of April on the rollers. So i passed.

Here are some photos of my new Bachrus Engine Roller Stand Set (A second set of rollers was also purchased to accommodate articulated locos, but not shown in second photo). It appears to be well made and of very high quality.

The only problem that I have with the set is that the rear stirrup is too short to support the loco trailing truck. I have a note in to the folks at Bachrus about that. I may just have to buy a couple more short stirrups as I would prefer everything be supported. 

They look great. These are the 60 series rollers? They told me on Feb 14 that it would be mid April for them. You must have gotten the last ones.

How high is it from the top of the track rail to the top of the stirrup where the wheel of the tender rides? Just thinking i would get some stirrups...the long one at least.

quote:

How high is it from the top of the track rail to the top of the stirrup where the wheel of the tender rides?

1-1/8" or 28.5mm  The tender stirrup is about 12" long.

They are very well done.