So I posted about my acquisition of a Zenner RKBB coach, and that I had fitted it with Roll-Ez ball-bearing wheels. A few days later, somebody - and I can't find the post or the thread it was in - wrote that Peter Zenner knows exactly what wheels best fit his conversions. Ruefully I confirm this. With "his"wheels the coach runs very freely, but when i put on the Roll-Ez wheels it was very sticky, if that's a good word to use. So I've put back his wheels, but the main point of my post is to understand more about why this was the case. I've got Roll-Ez wheels now on several LGB German outline coaches, and they enhance the ride, run free but with a smooth and solid feel.
So comparing the Roll-Ez and Zenner wheels obviously the Roll-Ez are much heavier. But I now also notice that the Roll-Ez is visibly smaller in diameter too, visible in the first foto, I hope. Second foto compares with the LGB metal wheels that were on an RuBB coach I acquired and which i also exchanged for Roll-Ez. I this case the Roll-Ez is on the right. The LGB ones are slightly bigger but the difference is far less than with the Zenner ones.
So what's this all about then? Is Mr Kramer working to a smaller scale because most of his customers are US based? And why would diameter so affect the smooth running, or is it perhaps the big weight difference that affected it? Any other general experiences with Roll-Ez and European outline stock?
So comparing the Roll-Ez and Zenner wheels obviously the Roll-Ez are much heavier. But I now also notice that the Roll-Ez is visibly smaller in diameter too, visible in the first foto, I hope. Second foto compares with the LGB metal wheels that were on an RuBB coach I acquired and which i also exchanged for Roll-Ez. I this case the Roll-Ez is on the right. The LGB ones are slightly bigger but the difference is far less than with the Zenner ones.
So what's this all about then? Is Mr Kramer working to a smaller scale because most of his customers are US based? And why would diameter so affect the smooth running, or is it perhaps the big weight difference that affected it? Any other general experiences with Roll-Ez and European outline stock?