Intermountain SD40-2

[rrjim1]

The Kato wheelsets just swap in, although the axle length is a little longer so you'll get more friction and potential long term wear on the pickups.  They are better looking wheels, however I don't know why anyone would think they would fix ride height or other issues of proportions with the model.

The trucks are the same as Atlas SD50/60, and IM tunnel motors and SD45-2.

The kato wheelsets can be adjusted, you just need to press the pointed shaft in with some kind of a small press.

[C855B]

I thought the one I got was pre-merger.  I'll have to check.

I'm looking for something from the first order, 3123-3242, from '72-'73. The only pre-merger models IM has done so far have been from UPs fifth order in 1977, 3335-3399, which is out of my modeling period.

[jagged ben]

The kato wheelsets can be adjusted, you just need to press the pointed shaft in with some kind of a small press.

Hmm, you mean the newer low profile ones?  I thought they were one piece but I'll look again.  What kind of press would you recommend?

[jagged ben]

I'm looking for something from the first order, 3123-3242, from '72-'73. The only pre-merger models IM has done so far have been from UPs fifth order in 1977, 3335-3399, which is out of my modeling period.

Looks like BLI is doing those numbers.

[C855B]

Looks like BLI is doing those numbers.

Still hoping IM steps up on this. No interest in paying BLI for sound I don't want; I did that on their PAs and they are still on my bench waiting to be de-soundified, having never been on rails in the three (?) years I've had them. I have one or two of the Kato 40-2s floating around in a box somewhere; I'll drag those out and check how close they are to the proto I'm after.

[Xmtrman]

Looks like BLI is doing those numbers.

But it looks like they have ditch lights on 'em.

It's always something...

[rrjim1]

Hmm, you mean the newer low profile ones?  I thought they were one piece but I'll look again.  What kind of press would you recommend?

Kato low profile geared wheelset 932090 is what I used, there three piece. Remove the wheels from the plastic gear, then you can press the pointy shaft in to make the assembled wheelset shorter. I used a JW's HO slot car wheel press, but you could use a small vise and a couple pieces of brass.

[jagged ben]

Kato low profile geared wheelset 932090 is what I used, there three piece. Remove the wheels from the plastic gear, then you can press the pointy shaft in to make the assembled wheelset shorter. I used a JW's HO slot car wheel press, but you could use a small vise and a couple pieces of brass.

Thanks.

[peteski]

What exactly needs to be done to use the kato wheelsets for the IM SD40-2? I've read people doing something just unsure exactly what is being done.

IM trucks are actually Atlas parts (or identical to Atlas parts).  Here is more info on the swap (and modifying Kato wheelsets):  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33107.0

EDIT: Now that we discovered that both Atlas and IM used the same factory to make their models it makes perfect sense that they shared some of the same parts. Why reinvent the wheel for IM when the factory already had the trucks designed for Atlas - just use them on IM models too.   

[GM50 4164]

Thank you everyone for the tips.

[mu26aeh]

Ok, so where is the thread about the gap fix ?  Ben ( @GM50 4164 ) and I have both searched different phrases and can't find it anywhere.