Bullfrog Snot-anyone tried it? Other traction ideas?

One presumes you are using lead for weight - replace it with tungsten?

MWB,

 

Where does one get a round piece of tungsten and just how much heavier is it?  I have heard of this method but never checked into it.  No thoughts on the "snot"?  Maybe I could try rigging up some mini-sanders somehow!  Kidding...........

Peter

Peter EB

 

As MWB suggests, you can try substituting tungsten for lead.  You can get tungsten cylinders in a variety of dimensions from Mi-Tech metals "Crankshaft Store"

 

https://www.mi-techmetals.com/cart/

 

Pure tungsten is 1.7 times heavier than lead.  To make it machinable, it is usually alloyed with nickel and copper, so its a bit lighter (I think around 1.5 times heavier). But that is still enough.

 

BUT before you start adding weight, I recommend you first make sure that most, if not all, the loco's weight is on the driven wheels. I am not familiar with the locos you described, but I'd first pull off the pony trucks and the trailing trucks on the steamers. See if that eliminates the slipping.  If it does, check that the trucks don't have too stiff a spring.  If they do, the springs will push those trucks down, and take weight off the drivers.  

 

Similarly, check the driven wheels on the CF7.  If only the outboard wheels are driven, and the weight is in the center, you have a problem. The weight causes the center of the chassis to flex down, the ends to flex up, and a disproportionate share of the weight to bear on the inboard undriven wheels.   Just guessing on that one!

 

As for Bullfrog Snot, Chris Smith wrote a review in OST. You can get that online, but you will have to search which one. If I recall it works fine, but it chunks off after time, and it has a decidedly unprototypical green hue

 

 

John, first the CF7 pulls just fine.  I will check the driven wheel weight on the 4-6-0 and third, the website lists 1x1.5 inch rods for 26 bucks but fails to state the weight!  Min. order is 50  bucks.  I'm guessing I could jam 3 of these in the boiler for 78 bucks but w/o knowing the weight..............am I missing something on their site?

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

There is a weight calculator on their site. Go to the home page:

 

http://www.mi-techmetals.com/

 

Then go to "Customer Resources", and then The "weight calculator"

 

http://www.mi-techmetals.com/calculator.htm

 

The crankshaft weights are made of the HD 17 alloys

 

Glad to hear the CF7 runs fine

 

 

Bull Frog Snot works great....just takes time to put it on properly and let it cure.

Ive used frog snot too and it works really well. Read the instructions an follow them and you will have plenty of traction

I've snot needed any.......

Actually, the CF7 is fine-chugged right up it!

 

Peter

A couple thoughts.  With the 2-8-2T, if it is stalling and not slipping, the weight is too much for the motor, and it either needs a new motor or less weight.  The 4-6-0 may be unbalanced, and needs the weight moved back or more added to the rear.  Also, if the drivers are plated and not raw steel, they could definitely use some Snot.

I need to put the 2-8-2T "on the scope" (Decoder Pro) and see what's up with the top voltage setting.  It was one of the first (of many) that I put DCC w sound in and I was a pup back then doing the programming manually.  I had no track on a layout to test any of these (except a 5 foot level test track) so I did not see any problems running back and forth on a flat track.  Now that I am older and wiser (?) I need to check that.  If the voltage is all the way up, I will need a stronger re-motor motor as the weight is not excessive.  I have ordered some snot just in case.  I also plan to test the 4-6-0 by running it w/o the front truck as suggested by someone else.  The weight is as far back as it can got w/o hitting the motor/gearbox link-up.  Thanks, more later........g'night

 

Peter

Sorry - way Off Topic question, but ref the CF7 that's been mentioned - is it a current, in-production model? How widely available is it - or was it, if it's an old model, & what does "relatively cheap" mean in terms of $$$...???
Sorry to ask, but the CF7 is one of two types I would really like in O scale - the other being a better GP38-2 than Weaver's....

Thanks for the reply, Peter. No worries about the details, the make is enough. $500 seems pretty good for brass - I bet it'd cost me a small fortune to import one to the UK... if I even found one, of course!!

That 4-6-0 may be binding up in the curve.   Maybe the lead truck jams against the frame and wedges the loco so it can't move.    I would look into that sort of possibility before trying to add more weight.     

 

And the Mineret may also be binding ont he curve.   If all drivers are flanged and not much play and no articulatated side rods.   Even with articulated side rods, the drivers may be binding int he curve and hence it is not running - - it can't.    If you have a  ramp meter, check the camperage draw when it locks up.