Accucraft Freight, Caboose, Tender and J&S Passenger Trucks

Ball Bearings

Clicking any image will expand to a larger view. Use your browser back button to return.

First 2 photo's show side by side comparison of "factory" wheels and sideframes on the left and modified wheels and sideframes to the right. The third picture is of the new Jackson & Sharp ball bearing kit of parts. Included is 8 replacement bushing with bearings and 4 replacement axles with Sierra Valley wheelsets.

Due to the loss of the Sierra Valley wheel option, I can only offer the option to turn the axle tips of your Accucraft wheels to fit the bearing I use. I'm using a R144zz ball bearing. The OD (outside dimension) is .250" (1/4") and the ID (inside dimension) is .125" (1/8"). The stock Accucraft wheel tip diameter is 4 millimeters or .1572" (1mm = .0393"). Typically, you would disassemble your trucks and ship me the wheels and sideframes only. This would be for freight and caboose trucks. Although, taking apart the caboose trucks can sometimes be challenging. Email me if you're uncomfortable taking apart your trucks and we can discuss other options. For the J&S trucks, there are pictures at the bottom of this page showing how to take them apart. I no longer offer a "kit of parts" to bearing the J&S trucks. If you have wheels from another source, I will sell you the new bushing and bearing but keep in mind, the effectiveness of a ball bearing is a sung fit of the axle to the ID of the bearing. Almost all commercial wheels on the market have a 3mm axle tip. That's close enough to be .118". A very loose, sloppy fit to the R144zz bearing. It will work but not as effective as an axle turned to .1245" diameter.

TRUCKS I WILL BEARING

3' 7" Accucraft Freight Trucks (red, brown or black)(you mail me the sideframes and wheels)                        $30.00  

3' 7" Accucraft Caboose Trucks (you mail me the sideframes and wheels)                                                            $30.00 

3' 7" Accucraft Caboose Trucks (you mail me the complete pair of trucks)                                                            $35.00 

4' 8" Accucraft Reefer Trucks (you mail me the sideframe and wheels)                                                                 $30.00  

Accucraft Tender Trucks (you mail me complete pair of trucks)                                                                             $35.00

Accucraft J&S Trucks (you mail me the wheels, I mail back the wheels, bushings, bearings)                            $35.00

J&S BEARING PROCEDURE     

Wheels will be the Accucraft wheels mailed to me which I machine and return with the bushings and bearings. You will need a #0 and a #1 Phillips head screwdriver.

With the #0 driver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the journal. Loosen only the #1 screw into the sideframe.

Rotate the strap out and away from the journal. This will allow the journal to come out with the wheel and 2 brass bushings.

Journal, wheel and bushings removed. Mail the wheels to me.

Slide 2 new bearing bushings on the axle tips of the wheels. Insert into the back journal, slide the front journal on and fit into the sideframe. Be sure to keep the journal right side up.

If you're having trouble re-inserting the journal, check to make sure the new bushings are seated all the way into the journals. While the trucks are assembly line produced in China, there are differences between trucks and between the journals. That's why I don't recommend doing more than one wheel at a time. Also, the older truck journals are cast brass and then machine drilled for the brass bushing. Sometimes the drilled hole is less than perfect. Off centered or drilled through the side of the journal box are common. You may need to "address" an imperfect journal if necessary. I have re-drilled the hole and or filled poorly drilled holes. This is an extreme case, maybe 1 in 25 trucks. The new truck journal boxes are injected plastic. The new bushing fits snugly will a little "help".

Swing the strap back into position, re-insert the 2 #0 screws and tighten the #1 screw. Check for free rolling. Check the tabs on either side of the fake leaf springs. You may need to bend these out a little as they sometimes interfere with the compression of the spring bar.

I would recommend not re-attaching the electrical pickups as these will defeat the bearings. If you need lighting in the cars, convert to battery power with LED's or incandescent lighting.

CUSTOMER RESPONSES

" Steeper grades, heavier loads, longer trains, all possible!   These are the answer to many issues!!", Bob Gerloff, Lakewood, CO. 

"Since converting my trucks to Phil's ball bearing, my Accucraft C-21 has gone from a max of 8 cars up a 3.7% grade on my layout to 18 cars without slipping the drivers. Well worth the effort!"

Dean Lowe, La Verne, Ca.