Wheel presses

[AER_2263]

Hi,

What are other 009 loco kit builder's thoughts on using a wheel press...Do you use one? Or is a firm tug with pliers sufficient?

I've seen one made by GW Models, I'm not sure if it will fit the smaller axles that 009 use though.

I've got by without one for now but I'm building a model of Russell and the wheels really are a 'force fit' onto the axles so I'm thinking a press is essential to ensure squareness.

Cheers

[rhydddu009]

I've found that pressing them together in a vice - ensuring the axle and wheel are square (of course) and by applying gentle pressure is perfectly fine. 

maybe a wheel press is worth it for O gauge, but I find a vice perfectly fine for 009.

Colin

[david788]

Hi,

I've seen one made by GW Models, I'm not sure if it will fit the smaller axles that 009 use though.

I've got by without one for now but I'm building a model of Russell and the wheels really are a 'force fit' onto the axles so I'm thinking a press is essential to ensure squareness.

Cheers

I've got a GW Models press from my EM gauge modelling days. It works well as a quartering jig but is designed for use with 2mm (and 1/8 in) axles which is likely to be a bit big for 009.
However if you have 2mm axles it could be useful. Assuming your Russell is outside framed,  for starting the pressing of the driving wheels  and [depending on how they are fixed] possibly for installing and quartering the outside cranks.

I'm a bit concerned that you say the wheels really are a 'force fit'. Although I don't know what type they are you may need to be careful not to distort the wheel or bend the axle,

[AER_2263]

Thanks for the replies.

When I say force fit, I mean that gentle finger pressure will not push the axle through the wheel centres. I could use a vice to get started but I need the axle to pretrude through the bearings in order to fit the outside cranks. The fact that the kit instructions recomends purchasing a wheel-press is the give away! However, I was wondering whether the

[rhydddu009]

you can still use a vice to get protruding axles; just use some packing with a hole slightly larger than the axle.