Repost from Jim King of Craggy Mountain Line who can't get back in this forum:

"I volunteer on craggymountainline.com where we operate a gas-powered trolley that uses a Kalamazoo foundation. We're in need of new 20" wheels for it this coming year. I've checked with Harsco (company who bought K'zoo Mfg years ago) and no wheels larger than 16" offered. Can someone suggest a source for new or good-condition used 19-20" wheels? I can provide a photo of 1 wheel we have that, in desperation, might be used as a sand cast pattern since shrinkage isn't a major concern. Please message me or you can email jimking3 at charter dot net or call 828-777-5619."

Any assistance, sources, or interest in a run of castings out there?

While I don't own a motorcar with 20" wheels I will say that usable 20" wheels command a very high price in the speeder hobby. From what I have seen they are very hard to come by and in certain situations a full set has cost more than a fully functioning speeder with 16" or 14" wheels. I think the best case in this scenario would be to do a new run of 20" wheels. I'm sure you would have people lined up to get a set should the price be right.


Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the WWII Willy's Jeeps adapted for rail-use have 20 inch wheels?

I would suggest you try the Strasberg Railroad Mechanical Department. The deal in both full size trains and smaller park size trains. But custom made wheels are expensive. Be prepared for the cost.

Wheels used for Kalamazoo cars were made from spun and pressed steel and were not cast. The original tooling is held by Harsco and when we inquired back in 2018 they wanted a minimum order of 50 wheels that at the time was quoted at $1000 a wheel. I imagine it is considerably more expensive now if they were entertain an order at all. Our project was for fabricating handcars. We have since created spinning tooling for 20 inch wheel rims for wood centered wheels for our recreational handcars, but they are inappropriate for a heavy motorcar.

We have various salvaged demountable 20 inch pressed steel wheels, most with 1/8" remaining tread which is borderline for continued use. Most came off of work carts and were already worn out. While appropriate for occasional usage on lightweight vehicles they are inappropriate for motorcar use.

Your best bet is to obtain cast 20 inch wheels and modify the car to accept them if it was not designed for them. Many Kalamazoo products used permanent hub mounted 20 inch wheels where the hub was thrown away with the wheel when it was worn out. Later Kalamazoo (post WWII) used demountable wheels. You may have luck finding demountable hubs from a scrapped motorcar. Long term converting to iron wheels is a better solution because you won't find 20 inch pressed steel wheels again. Twenty inch cast wheels may be obtainable off retired maintenance of way equipment.

Unless you have a pattern maker that understands making a foundry pattern and a big lathe capable of turning a 20 inch wheel with a skilled machinist I would not attempt to go that route. You also have to find foundry capable and willing to take on the project. Most smaller job foundries have gone out of business.