Scratchin my head on this

[Play-Doh]

My layout is DC and I am converting all my rolling stock to metal wheels.
Now im not too bright when it comes to the electrical side of things, but if a metal wheel is being used on DC track, wont it cause problems because of the polarity? A current would be running through the wheels right? Can this mess up my engine?

Any advice?

Thanks
Play-Doh

 

[Nomad]

Play-Doh, the wheel sets either have plastic axels, or a plastic insulator between the wheel and axel. I hope that is what you want to know.

Loren

 

[MasonJar]

You need to be careful with the adjustments if you have any metal wheels/metal truck/metal underframe combinations. I have seen trouble on a few friends' layouts when cars with improperly tuned "undersides" have shorted the system. Very hard to trace...! So make sure tht the metal wheels properly clear the trucks and metal underframes.

Andrew

 

[doctorwayne]

Back in the stone age of model railroading, when rolling stock and locos were metal, and when not only the wheels, but also the trucks were metal, coupling onto a car whose insulated wheels were on the opposite rail to those of the loco would fry the knuckle springs right out of the Kadee couplers. Those Kadees, by the way, were uncoupled with a mechanical uncoupler, which actuated a straight pin hanging down from the knuckle itself. The good old days!

Wayne

 

[Play-Doh]

Thanks everyone! I had never noticed the plastic insulator betweent the wheel and the axel. I am using plastic trucks so i forsee any problems for here on in.