Replacing HST wheels?

[End2end]

Are there replacement wheels available for an older HST (pre-dcc) that do not need traction tyres?
Thanks
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[Mountain]

I have not actually done this, but I was thinking along the lines of doing it. One just swaps them over with wheels from another HST bogie from the dummy end, so all one needs is spare wheels from a spare HST or other similarly designed loco.
But here comes the negative in that without traction tyres they will hardly pull much. New traction tyres enable them to pull a whole train of the shorter Hornby HST coaches, so a train of seven HST MK3 coaches and the dummy car at the end.

Now another theory I was looking at is how to do the same on Lima locos such as Lima HST's, and studying the wheels, the metal part looks joined on to its plastic centre, so in theory, one can do a similar thing to eliminate traction tyres as one needs to retain the cogs to drive the wheels.
Another theoretical way requires patience with old duplicate wheels so if messed up it does not matter, and that is to cut off the cogs and glue them onto other wheels.
But again, traction tyres do give great grip to the loco. I will say if anyone has an older loco with traction tyres which is slipping, fit new tyres, as the older tyres may still look good, but they lose their grip as they start to harden with age. I hope this gives a few ideas.

One experiment ai once did was to fit two HST motors into a buffet coach, but they ran of different speeds and fought with each other! Now if they had been better matched, and if I eliminated their traction tyres so the wheels could slip more, they may have worked better as a pair and given me the traction to pull the HST formation.
As mentioned before, a HST with good traction tyres and a healthy strong pancake or ring field motor will pull prototypical length HST' on perfectly flat layout. One may need to put thinner axled wheels on the dummy car to reduce friction but it is possible. Where the problem is in that if ones layout has a slight incline, then it will really struggle. Why the modern Hornby HST (Though costly) were a game changer. Wasn't so much the detail as the older models actually had good detail apart from eliminating the gap around the lights on the Hornby version, (And for years Hornby modelled the origional version while Lima modelled later versions as one could tell by both the rear windows and the roof cowling), looks wize they really looked the part.
In the years before the new ones came in, a modeller converted a Bachmann class 24 or 25 chassis to drive his HST with success. He said he had to lengthen the drive shafts and made himself a new chassis which isn't as complicated as it sounds. Back then, many were looking for alternatives and one small manufacturer did make chassis to convert ones HST powercar to all wheel drive. They seemed to dissapear whenHorby made their all wheel drive version.

[End2end]

Thanks Mountain.
Unfortunately I cannot use any traction tyres at all as I am now cleaning my track with INOX.
I think I only have 3 coaches and a dummy car to pull. This, plus adding more weigh to the driving car and having no inclines may annihilate the issue IF I can find find suitable non-traction tyre replacements.
Thanks
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[Mountain]

Thanks Mountain.
Unfortunately I cannot use any traction tyres at all as I am now cleaning my track with INOX.
I think I only have 3 coaches and a dummy car to pull. This, plus adding more weigh to the driving car and having no inclines may annihilate the issue IF I can find find suitable non-traction tyre replacements.
Thanks
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So it is down to finding spare chassis and using the wheels from those?

[Bigmet]

Unfortunately I cannot use any traction tyres at all as I am now cleaning my track with INOX.
I think I only have 3 coaches and a dummy car to pull. This, plus adding more weight to the driving car and having no inclines may annihilate the issue IF I can find find suitable non-traction tyre replacements.

Any joy in finding the metal tyred wheelsets if you are still on that plan? Keep in mind that Hornby's pre DCC bogie/tender drives may well have wheels common to both which can be swapped around.
Straightforwardly though, unless hunting down suitable replacement parts is fun for you; I would suggest that a heavy centre motor all metal wheels driven and collecting power HST is the way to go. Yes, it will cost, but it will PERFORM!

[End2end]

Not yet Bigmet. I've been too busy of late.
The reason for keeping and trying to upgrade this HST is sentimental.
Thanks
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[RAF96]

I did this with a Class 90 as the motor was a ringfield and the dummy bogie wheels also had the gears on the wheel backs. Got the wheels part number from the service sheet and trawled the usual suppliers. A load of weight was added to the chassis and it pulls well.

[End2end]

Just a quick update on this side project.
I have ordered a dummy car bogie with wheels.
Hopefully this should replace the wheels with traction tires.
Thanks
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[RAF96]

I have replaced all my traction tyres bogies wheel with solid tyre replacements used by the dummy bogie end. Many ringfield locos use the same cogged wheels in both ends, so replacement is an easy swap and these are usually available as spares.
So far, Class 90, HST and Class 395 responded to that method.

[End2end]

So far, Class 90, HST and Class 395 responded to that method.

I had to go and check (I can never remember loco classes ) but I don't have a 90 or 395.
Good info for others that do though.
Thanks for that RAF.
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