ball bearing wheels and kadee couplers

[nickco201]

I have several1/20.3 bachmann hoppers and a few aristo craft heavy weight pullmans, and I am also thinking of buying a few accucraft 1/20.3 narrow gauge cars.
What is the best solution to make them roll better?   I know aristo and several other companies make ball bearing wheel sets. What bearings/ wheel sets do you recommend ?

Also I wanted to convert all the cars to kadee couplers. What number couplers do you recommend for these cars ?
Thanks!

[glennk28]

Kadee 830's fit the Spectrum cars, Kadee 835's fir the Accucrafts.  gj

[jsmvmd]

What is a source of ball bearing wheels now that San-Val is gone ?

Best Wishes,

Jack

[jsmvmd]

Dear Friends,

I did a google search for San-Val and came up with a website in the Santa Inez, CA area.  Is it the same folks ?

Next question, I want to convert my Bachmann rolling stock to BB wheels.  Any experience with Aristo vs. San-Val ?  Is it just a swap out or do you have to ream the journals ?

Best Wishes,

Jack

[Old John]

Several years ago I bought bearings from an ad in "Finescale Railroader", I bought a ton of them, they were Timken bearings and very cheap.  I've installed them in all my rolling stock including Bachmann.  You drill out the journal with 1/4" drill 1/16" deep and snap in the bearing - the inside diameter of the bearing matches Bachmann axles perfectly.  You my be able to get the Company phone number from the Finescale Railroader website or Russ the publisher.

[jsmvmd]

Dear John,

Thanks !  I meant the San Ysidro valley.

Best Wishes,

Jack

[Loco Bill]

San Val wheels may be available,  The owner sells stuff on Ebay all the time under the name anaKramer .   Not sure about the spelling tho.

[jsmvmd]

Dear Bill,

That is the website I found with a San-Val google search.

Thanks for the reply !

How are the Missouri mules out your way ?  The Penn State Nittany Lions have had their claws trimmed !

Jack