[Greg Elmassian]

Pete, I'm a little confused, do you really have ball bearings? Where did you buy them? From re-reading the post it sounds like you have Aristo cars with factory ball bearing wheels. Are the ball bearings between the axle and the wheel, or are they in the sideframes between the sideframe and the axle?

Regards, Greg

 

[Greg Elmassian]

If you have ball bearing WHEELSETS, where the ball bearings are between the axle and the wheel, the last thing you want turning is the axle in the journal, this defeats the purpose of the ball bearings. I think the reason the axle does NOT turn in the journals is ON PURPOSE.

Now, not to confuse the issue where the ball bearings are in the journal, between the sideframe and the axle, and the wheels are rigidly attached to the axle.

My experience with san val wheels is that they are not as free rolling as the LGB (best) and the Aristocraft (good) sets.

Regards, Greg

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Check to see that the outside face of the wheel is not rubbing against the back of the sideframes... something is fishy. The axles should not turn in the journals....

Regards, Greg