FVM 36" wheels dont fit MT Heavyweights?

[Bill H]

Hi:
Noticed on BLW's website that there is a note regarding FVM 36" .540 wheels that they don't fit MT Heavyweights?

http://www.blwnscale.com/fvm-wheelsets.htm

Specifically "Note: These do not fit Micro-Trains Passenger Trucks"

Can anyone explain this?

Kind regards,
Bill

[peteski]

I believe that it has to so with the brake shoes molded with the frame. I think MTL used 33" wheels in those trucks and the brake shoes are molded so (realistically) close to the wheel tread that they will rub against the 36" wheel's tread.

[Missaberoad]

I believe that refers to the pre-Heavyweight 6 axle trucks... The heavyweights come with 36" wheels...

[Chris333]

I remember asking the same question. They are talking about old MTL passenger trucks, before they started doing passenger cars. The FVM 36 wheels fit MTL heavyweight trucks.

[Bill H]

Thanks guys...

[nickelplate759]

There are two different styles of heavyweight 6-wheel trucks available from Micro-trains.  The style with the truck-mounted coupler uses 33" wheels, and has the brakeshoe issue Peteski mentioned if you try and put 36" wheels in it.   The newer one, with the off-set bolster hole (in 3 different variations - drop-equalized, top-equalized and PRR) that comes with their heavyweight cars, takes 36" wheels and ought to be OK.

[bbussey]

The current heavyweight trucks take FVM 3601 wheels.  The original Kadee-tooled heavyweight trucks for the Atlas/Rivarossi models were designed for 33" wheels, as were the trucks they were designed to replace.  If you want to use FVM 3601 wheels in the Kadee heavyweight trucks, you have to bend out or remove the molded-on brake shoes.