My new Lionel Mogul has a slight wobble due to the traction tire. Almost non noticeable but I see it. I could obviously just replace the new traction tire but feel it is a waste to replace a new tire. Is it possible to just remove and reset? Can/do traction tires stretch unevenly when installed? Thoughts?
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Just my opinion of course, but once it has ben stretched once, you don't want to stretch it again by removing and re-installing. If you can get a dental pick just under the area where the "lump" is, see if there is any debris in the tire groove and remove if there is. Otherwise, I'd remove and install a new one and get on with life.
My Mogul had the same issue. First I cut the originals off to confirm that was the issue. It was.
Once I knew what the issue was, I took the my Dremel and cut off the brake shoes on the axle that has traction tires (first one). This is a somewhat common problem with Lionel - the thick tires rub on the brake shoe detail causing binding. I then put the spare tires back on temporarily until I could get some thinner MTH tires. Problem solved, for now.
Replace it, once a traction tire is damaged, it's not repairable. I have never had to cut the brake shoes off, but I keep all the MTH tires in stock so I usually have the thinner ones to install.
Run it for awhile first. In my experience the wobble will lessen and go away over time.
The traction tires tend to get flat spots while the Loco sits in the box for several weeks on the slow boat from china.
Similarly, any Loco parked on rails versus a flat shelf/surface resting on the flanges, will also end up with flat spots on the tires.
If the brake shoes rub the tires:
The brake shoes are usually mounted to the bottom of the chassis with a small Phillips head screw.
The brake shoes on the engineers side of the Loco often turn in closer to the driver when tightening. Check them all regardless
I loosen the screw, place a small flat head screwdriver between the wheel and the shoe for spacing. Then retighten the screw.
Taking a Dremel to a brand new Loco sounds a bit extreme.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Replace it, once a traction tire is damaged, it's not repairable. I have never had to cut the brake shoes off, but I keep all the MTH tires in stock so I usually have the thinner ones to install.
Considering this problem wmcwood and others have encountered with Lionel's thicker traction tires I wonder why Lionel continues using them instead of thinner ones like MTH uses?
FYI the brake shoes are cast in, no screw. Taking a dremel to it wasn't my first choice but worked fine.
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