I have just released a video about ball bearings for LEGO trains and compatible. Ball bearings make your trains faster, you consume less battery, and you can pass through tight curves with less problems.
The video describes what material you need, how to fit the ball bearings into your wheel sets and what the effect is.
As always, the video ends with some train operation scenes from a recent layout.
We have also created a web page about ball bearings on mattzobricks.com.
Enjoy!
Thank you for your great work. I looked at your page for the ball bearings. I would like to implement the 1st solution for my trains but I have some problems with the posted images. Could you perhaps post the grub screw version with a gray train wheel holder from Bluebrixx? I can’t really see anything in the photo with black screw on black train axle holder.
Hi Mattze,
after viewing your site and studying it at length, I equipped myself with what it takes to put ball bearings on axles and wheel holders, but I am running into a problem: all the current wheel holders from Lego are for all plastic wheels and they don’t allow for putting metal axles at all, unless I guess some modifications. Have you experienced with these ? Do you have advices ?
Thanks – jr
ps: your site is a gold mine!
You need the old wheel holders, part no 2878 or similar.
These wheel holders appear to be shipped in newer sets like the “Download Streetcar” (no. 60423) again. So there is hope for the future.