Arnold SW-1 Parts source?

[mmagliaro]

that is perfect for my layout

If you have some Kato wheelsets lying around that you don't mind sacrificing, I would be willing to do this to your engine as a "trial balloon" so you could get it back and give an opinion of whether it's worth having.  PM me if you're up for this.
This isn't an open invitation to start offering a "service".  I'm just curious if a neutral 3rd party would say, "Yeah, this runs better" or "Yeah, the pickup is more reliable" or if they'd just say, "Meh... not really any different"

[johnb]

If you have some Kato wheelsets lying around that you don't mind sacrificing, I would be willing to do this to your engine as a "trial balloon" so you could get it back and give an opinion of whether it's worth having.  PM me if you're up for this.
This isn't an open invitation to start offering a "service".  I'm just curious if a neutral 3rd party would say, "Yeah, this runs better" or "Yeah, the pickup is more reliable" or if they'd just say, "Meh... not really any different"

PM sent

[VonRyan]

My SW-1 works great right out of the box. I left the traction tires in place, and for such a small locomotive, this thing is a fantastic puller. I had mine pulling somewhere around 30 MT 2-bay hoppers all with cast resin coal loads in them, and it just walked away with the train in tow like it wasn’t even there.

I’m not sure about the wheelbases of other SW series locomotives, but if I were modeling say a Lehigh Valley branch, I’d want to use the Arnold mechanisms under anything I could.

[tehachapifan]

....I’m not sure about the wheelbases of other SW series locomotives, but if I were modeling say a Lehigh Valley branch, I’d want to use the Arnold mechanisms under anything I could.

I think the wheelbase does match other switcher locos. However, it would probably be very hard to get the SW1 frame to fit in any other switcher shells because of where the indents and protrusions are located with regards to where the cab and hood are positioned on the SW1.

[sd45elect2000]

Finally got around to testing this.  With my modified SW-1, 8 Kato wheels, no TT, and the center fuel tank full of tungsten, mine can reliably pull 10 40' MT cars with Fox Valley wheels on level track.    Adding an 11th car gets dodgy, with some slipping in curves, and on the 12th car, there is lots of slipping.  So I'd call it 10.

I’ve been following this thread with interest. My biggest issue for the last few years are the big wheels on the tomix powered chassis. I have some girder rail from proto 87 and the tomix are unusable on this rail. The FVM wheels fit the rail perfectly. I want to incorporate some Interurban street running but I am hindered by wheel issues.

I used FVM wheels on other equipment and I love the way the wheels look, I wish I could easily apply them to the tomix chassis.

Randy

[peteski]

I’ve been following this thread with interest. My biggest issue for the last few years are the big wheels on the tomix powered chassis. I have some girder rail from proto 87 and the tomix are unusable on this rail. The FVM wheels fit the rail perfectly. I want to incorporate some Interurban street running but I am hindered by wheel issues.

I used FVM wheels on other equipment and I love the way the wheels look, I wish I could easily apply them to the tomix chassis.

Randy

Randy,
If the problem is with flanges being too large then you can always just fix the Tomix wheels instead of looking for replacement.  Flanges can be turned down on a lathe, or even with a file.  IIRC procedure of turning down flanges using a file has  been mentioned on TRW multiple times.

[sd45elect2000]

The wheels are also way too wide. At some point seeing ,as how you and I don’t live far from each other we could at some point get together . I don’t know if you have ever seen the proto 87 rail but it is gorgeous.

[peteski]

The wheels are also way too wide. At some point seeing ,as how you and I don’t live far from each other we could at some point get together . I don’t know if you have ever seen the proto 87 rail but it is gorgeous.

That is a possibility.
I also have couple of those power chassis - I have to dig them out to see the type of wheels they use and how easily the new Kato wheels could be adapted to them.  But Kato "semi-scale" wheels are in the 40" diameter range, and I thought those chassis used smaller diameter wheels.