Bulk Axels and Wheels?

Carl ODay

Pinewood Ninja
Aug 12, 2019
31
5
8
45
Highland, CA
Hello all. My daughter's race is still 6 months out and I would like t run her through some tests of axel and wheel bore preps so she can see the results (good or bad) of different methods. We can also try out different lubes so she can see the differences. Is there a place to get axels and wheels in bulk so I'm not having to buy a full kit for each test?

Thanks in advance for the input.
 
I would only buy wheels from the scout shop, with axles, for $1.99. There are places online which sell bulk wheels. But some also sell "hand picked premium wheels" and "modified wheels". So when you get the standard wheels, It is very possible they are all picked over, with all the best ones removed, so you won't get good wheels. The only way this would not be true is if when they hand picked their "premium wheels" they just threw away every single wheel which didn't meet their "premium" criteria, but I doubt this is the case. Maybe, but doubtful.
 
Hello all. My daughter's race is still 6 months out and I would like t run her through some tests of axel and wheel bore preps so she can see the results (good or bad) of different methods. We can also try out different lubes so she can see the differences. Is there a place to get axels and wheels in bulk so I'm not having to buy a full kit for each test?

Thanks in advance for the input.

In my experience there is quite a bit of variability in the stock wheels. I bought five kits and threw all of the wheels in a pile and then checked the run-out on each wheel. They varied from 1.5 thousandths of run-out to nearly 10 thousandths. If you're wanting to do testing of different preps then you'll want to use wheels that are as similar as possible, same with the axles. That way you know it is your prep that is changing your speed, not variability in the wheels.

It could get expensive, but you could by sets of of DD4H's Dynasty BASX wheels ($11.95 for four). These have been trued on a lathe and would be much more similar to each other than wheels straight from a kit. Same with the axles, you could get the BSA speed axles (four for $7.95). If you're running the usual one raised wheel/rail rider then you could buy three sets of wheels and axles and outfit four cars, just use a junk wheel you have for the NDFW.
 
I am a rookie at all this but I have been through about 200 BSA Scout Shop wheels and axles. From that number I have found ONE that I consider to be Gem Box Stock (round, balanced, with a true hub) that runs smooth as sink, right out of the box. I have two others that I call Very Good Box Stock, and then there are the other 197, some of which can be made good with work. I figure that I can use 7-9 percent with what I have to work with. Most are put in a storage box because I don't have the talent, or the machinery to salvage them.
I am keeping the very best and not touching them, waiting for the day that our Pack rules become ultra strict in an attempt to knock off a perpetual champion.