wheel building

Hi All
I am about to start building the wheels for my DCC loco.
One thing that has got me thinking is the vibration on the wheels when running on our great UK roads, how do the rivet bolts hold up, could they work loose, has anybody had any issues ?

Hi Geoff,

No need to worry, follow the instructions given and there should be no issue at all, no loose rivets so far and the roads here are as good or bad as in the UK. And on paved roads and approaching potholes you will reduce your speed anyways, you back will be grateful. Guess why I know

Cheers

Elwood

Hi

I ran Crystal my DCC Showman for over 4500 miles on the road over 10 years and the wheels were fine.
Also many many miles and hours on rally fields and gravel paths.

thanks for the replies

hi all
I am due to start the wheels on my Dcc loco in around 3 weeks
I have been going through the owners photos section and i find it frightening how professional you all seem to be some fantastic stuff on there.
I have been watching a few videos on you tube Chrix builds about the wheel building am i going down the right lines following this type of video?
Cannot wait to start I am a builder so I can build your house or workshop but i think I might need help with this build.
Thanks

I opened out the holes in both the spokes and the T rings as the rivet bolts were far too tight - my engine has done plenty of road miles and none of the bolts have any signs of coming loose. Be wary of "how to do this" videos on YouTube, they are sometimes put up with those who THINK they know how to do something, but that is not always the right way, this may not be obvious to a novice.

just a quick question are all the bolts studs etc. involved in the build metric

Hi Geoff,

except for very few instances all the nuts and bolts are metric. If my memory is correct, non-metric bolts are only used for the beading on tender and side covers and the three bolts that attach the pressure gauge to the plinth.

Cheers

Elwood

thank you for that Elwood

hi everyone
have just built my first front wheel provisionally fixed together looks good
I presume that the wheel rim has no back or front.
what grade of the flap wheel is 60 grit suitable to paint on.
any help greatly appreciated

Hi Geoff
I found using a flapper wheel even with a smooth grit to be a bit aggressive with it leaving marks in the steel if you are not careful.
I used the polycarbonate 'Poly Strip' paint removal wheels bought from Ebay as they easily removed all rust and mill scale without digging into the steel and leaving a good finish for your paint primer.

Hi Geoff,

on Pied Piper I used patio cleaner to get rid of the mill scale. 15 minutes submerged in the cleaner (basically weak hydrocloric acid) with a bit of moving about and the mill scale just came off easily. A quick once-over with a flapping wheel across the flat surface and a throughout rounding off of the edges prepared the spokes for painting.

Works like a charm.

Cheers

Elwood