Bull Frog Snot

gftiv posted:

Going to York and need some BFS. Does any body sell it? Who and what location?

Don't remember exactly, but it's next to the Kleenex display.

Just pick however much you need.

Will someone explain this thread to me?

I think "Bull Frog Snot" is a "performance improvement product" for locomtoives, having to do with traction for locomotive wheels that have those pesky tires. I Think it helps with traction. It is known for its effectiveness and unusual name. At least, that's what I heard in a conversation some hobbyists were having a couple aisles over from me when I saw a container of it years ago in my local hardware store.

Difficult product to apply evenly. As the service guy at our local train store, I spend a lot of time peeling this crud off loco wheels. Apparently, a lot of folks think if it works good on one or two wheels, why not slop it over all of them? Then the train looses outside rail contact and they wonder why. 

eddie g posted:

Will someone explain this thread to me?

Don't worry about it...just keep driving with your eyes on the road! 

Joe Hohmann posted:

eddie g posted:

Will someone explain this thread to me?

Don't worry about it...just keep driving with your eyes on the road! 

He meant eyes on the toad

Adriatic posted:

Joe Hohmann posted:

eddie g posted:

Will someone explain this thread to me?

Don't worry about it...just keep driving with your eyes on the road! 

He meant eyes on the toad

No, road. Eddie is supposed to be driving the 500 miles to York today. 

It' bright green and slimy then "sticky" once cured Eddie.   

Toad was funnier

I figured he was York bound or something.

It is probably more useful for trains that don't have traction tires.

Dennis

Not the smart thing to use for a traction tire.  Always replace a tire with a tire.  I have seen some nasty situations where people try this.  The job is never pretty.  You will never get it as smooth as a traction tire and it does not last.    The only time you will have a traction tire problem is when you put it on the wrong way.  A traction tire is not a rubber band.  Where you stretch it to it will stay there and fall off your wheel.  A traction tire needs to be rolled onto a wheel and not stretched.  Do it right and you will only need to do it one time.  Use no glue and by all means, stay clear of that Bullfrog stuff.

If you have a traction tire fall off, throw it away and put on a new one the correct way.  Do not waste your time trying to glue it back on.  

Listen to Marty and replace a tire with a tire. 

Dave

Didn't find anything on Youtube.  Is there a how to video on the correct way to change a tire?   I have my way but I have screwed up a few tires in the past but accidentally stretching them.

Moonson,  you heard someone a few isles over in a store talking about BS and how effective it is.   Do you know if these folks were model railroad guys?   The only traction tires that are a problem are the tires the owner/operator made a problem.   This gets kicked about often and I have no idea why.   Everyone is always looking for a better/easier way to deal with traction tires.  Do it right with a new tire installed properly and you are done with the job.  I do not have stock in BS or any maker of traction tires.  I do see several hundred train repairs in a year and I stand by the use of a properly installed traction tire.  

This was a unique situation. I purchases a conventional standard gauge #6 engine and coaches. Engine has no traction tires or no grooves for traction tires. Engine has trouble pulling the tender. Bullfrog Snot seemed like an easy fix.

Talked to Mike Wolf at York and he set me up with traction tire wheels. Installed the wheels. That was a first class pain. Engine now work as it should.

Pictures of the #6 engine, Proto 3, now shows traction tires. You should be good to go from now on.

George

Bullfrog snot is a great product for trains where parts are not available. I would not use it on and O scale/Guage train since there are tons of traction tires available and its not necessary to use it. 

Matt, what would you use it for?  

I've come across a few engine's that had the frog snot on them and they were a hot mess to say the least. If traction is a problem and the engine cannot be fitted with traction tires I'd first clean the track with 91% alcohol then my next option would be adding weight to the engine.

Agreed.  I refuse to work on any engine that has been mucked up with that BS.

Marthy, Ive had some HO locos that came across my bench that I have used it on. I couldn't find anything that would work and the groove in the wheels needs to have something but it is a huge pain to put on and get right. Ive used it a few times but its my last resort solution definitely not my first choice. Since I work in all scales I need solutions for older HO and N scale equipment. I haven't found an O scale loco that my complete selection of MTH traction tires wont work on

I thought it would be a great option for the MTH Climax. I was back in the service area at MTH and saw one of the techs putting a traction tire on one. I asked if I could watch and he told me he had already spent 1 hour and 15 minutes working on it and it still wasn’t finished.

Scott Smith 

First choice, just get the right traction tires.

A few years back I picked up and older Weaver Brass M1A mountain. It needed traction tires. With Weaver out of business and the tire grooves were too thin for any of the MTH or Lionel Traction tires. I was able with a fresh Xacto blade to cut a few tires the long way to fit the groove. If anyone knows of a source for Older Weaver engine traction tires appreciate the lead. Otherwise I just may have to try BFS.     It' SNOT right