Thought I might have read somewhere that there were 2 different sizes for the slots for thread carriage wheels. Any truth to that? Or are all aluminum base tracks created equal?

Some are and some aren't. Which tracks are you specifically talking about? There are a great many different rod lathes and wrappers that utilize aluminum beds.

............

I only have experience with the RBS track. The OD is 7 3/4", the slot tracks are 1" wide, with a 1/8" lip on each side of the slot, and from the center of one track to the center of the other is 6.5".



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/2023 07:33PM by Daryl Ferguson.

I don't know what you have, but the Customer Power Wrapper, Pac Bay, Alps and Forecast wrappers used the same bed, the CPW was just gold instead of silver. I haven't been around any of the real new designs. I have a Pac Bay and CPW, all the thread carriages, etc. are interchangeable, same parts, same basic designs.

Thanks all. No markings on it but believe it to be a Pac Bay. Was given to me couple yrs ago when I started and that's the motor was on it. The slots are 1" wide. The lips where the wheels ride are 3/4" ( .75") Reason I am asking is my 2 CRB carriages ride OK. My Rail wrapper ( AL Engle) doesn't. Tried adjusting it according to the video on his page. Also I seem to be able to snap wheels in and out with a bit of effort. A detached wheel fits very sloppily. I don't know maybe I just need to try new wheels? Edit: This isn't a new Rail wrapper.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/2023 07:07AM by Robert Parbus.

You can buy the bearings (“wheels”) for the RBS from Mudhole. If your CRB wrappers work on your track (same wrapper I have), then you should be good to go if you replace your bearings with these. Here’s a link.

[mudhole.com]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/2023 09:25AM by Daryl Ferguson.

Have you tried adjusting the wheels in their elongated slots to resize your Engle carriage? All of the wheels are a bit sloppy; carriage weight cocks the wheels and removes the slop.

Spencer Phipps Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have you tried adjusting the wheels in their
> elongated slots to resize your Engle carriage? All
> of the wheels are a bit sloppy; carriage weight
> cocks the wheels and removes the slop.


I have. For mine just the one middle bearing has a slot for adjustment. Can't seem to find the sweet spot. Either to tight or to loose. I bought it used a while back and it worked for a bit. First time it didn't I was busy ( with real life) and just swapped to a CRB I had. Really seemed to like it though. Like to get it back up.