I've become an expert at throwing traction tires!

Take the shell off and manually run the flywheel backwards and crank the tire pieces out of the gears.  DE-0000018 is the number for virtually all of the common diesel tires.

 

14 years old might be the problem. I just replaced a bunch.from engines that hadnt been run in several years. They sat there on the shelf, dried out, and split. Think about 14 year old tires on your car sitting in the garage. Would you take a road trip on those tires?

How long were they in storage?  Traction tires do go bad over time.

 

Stuart

 

This might help.  Some one else posted this a while back and its been a big help to me.

I might be considered lucky when it comes to throwing traction tires but I have not had a problem as of yet.  I do two things which might help keep traction tires in good shape.

 

I run all my engines at slow, more realistic speeds and because I have a rather small layout my freight and passenger car consist's are not log enough to put undue strain in the tires.

 

I clean my wheels and traction tires with a "rubber reguvinator" solvent.  It is a solvent used by printing facilities to clean and keep their rubber rollers soft and clean because of the many cleanings they go through with color changes, etc.  This solvent also cleans the grime off the non traction tire wheels.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

I ran them for about a year, then I got back into my steam engines.  13 years or so in storage.  I'm just going to replace them all.  Any installation tips?  I've never had to put one on any of my steamers, much less a diesel.  Is it ok to cement them in place?

 

I think I'd run these engines more if they had PS3.  I'm hoping to upgrade them one day.  

That stuff sounds interesting Steve, got a link to where we might buy it?

 

 

 

I have never resorted to gluing traction tires in place.  I have, on occasion, selected a tire that's a size smaller than usually called for to give it a tighter fit.  I also frequently use MTH traction tires on some Lionel stuff, they're much thinner as a rule.  I've had several Lionel locomotives, both steamers and diesels, that have had binding between the brake shoes and the tire due to the thickness of the Lionel tires.

John, I got a 10 oz. can of Max Professional rubber rejuvenator on Amazon.  I believe it was around $8.  It's most likely a lifetime supply for me.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Thanks Steve, I see it all over when I search on the name.  I'll have to give it a try and see how it works.

Volphin:

Good advice on here. old tires do dry out. Dry rot was common in car tires where I grew up. I'm wondering if they go bad faster in storage than in use.

 

Steve:

Good info, thanks for the Tip.

I ran a new / old Lionel diesel at a train show last weekend.  It threw all 4 traction tires on the first trip around the layout.  Two of them got caught in the gears.   I got them out.  Then the engine started to stall for no apparent reason.  This is a conventional engine with two can motors.  I will work on it someday.

 

I hate traction tires.  They are a constant maintenance problem.  They get the track dirty.  I don't think that they are necessary for heavy diecast steam engines or diesels with heavy frames.    

 

I suppose I am going to have to try BF Snot someday.

 

I wonder if Lionel's new Big Boy is going to have traction tires.  A friend has ordered one so I will eventually find out.  I can't see any reason for such a big heavy engine to have them except that it seems to be a 3-rail "tradition".   

 

Joe

 

 

John, I just spray a little on a rag then clean the traction tires along with the other wheels.  Really gets everything clean. I have been using it for about 10 years now and my traction tires look like new.   Let me know what you think.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex
 

It's in the queue.

 

My Railking RS3 with Locosounds that I bought back in the early 90s finally started throwing tires this year.  I had some loose in a box but they kept coming off as well.  I opened a new pack and all is good now.  They must have been close to 20-25 years old before the first one failed.

 

My Williams 2-8-2 tires are looking ragged but so far none have come off.  Might have to try some of that "rejuvenator" (does it work on 62yr old skin???).

So far the only engine to throw a traction tire on me was my MTH Reading Lines T-1. It's a pain to change the tire as you must drop the side rod, and then put it back in place.

 

None of my Williams engines had thrown a tire and I use them more then the MTH engine.

 

Lee Fritz

Rookie ! I tossed all eight of the traction tires on my UP #80 Coal Turbine in one loop around our club modular layout. It was like a snake shedding it's skin. Yes, they do get old, plus in my case were severely stressed by the length (40+ cars) of the consist.

 

Gilly

Cracked up when I read this and tried to imagine what that must looked and sounded like as it happened. Although if it were my engine I certainly would not have been laughing. Hopefully no lasting damage other than thrown tires.

FWIW, the MTH engine manuals I've read state that cleaning in general, including the tires, should be done with denatured alcohol on a swab and NOT rubbing alcohol. I do this occasionally. Not sure if it promotes longevity.

OK guys, I have picked up my new traction tires, and thanks to John, extracted the one stuck in the gears.  But for the life of me can't figure out how to install them without shoving them down between the metal frame and around the wheel.  There has to be a better way.  This is an MTH E8 Diesel, PS1.  Do the trucks and motors need to come off?  Help a brother out!  

The sideplates  come off, though with some you have to drop the truck to get to the screws.  Many of the MTH diesels I have the screws are visible from the bottom, just remove them and the sideplate falls off.  I've put them on some locomotives that don't have removable sideplates, it's a Royal PITA to do those, but it can be done.

 

 

I wonder if the rubber rejuvenator can be used on traction tires without removing them - leave them on and just clean the rubber right on the trucks?

James, as stated in my post above, I have been doing just that for over 10 years.  There is no reason to take the traction tires off. 

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Vophin,

 

My PS-1 Pere Marguette E8 ABA set threw tires regularly so I stopped replacing them years ago and began using silicone sealant in the wheel grooves instead.  I can send you instructions and photos of the product to buy if you want to try it.

.....

Dennis

Well guys, THAT was interesting.  LOL  We now have fresh rubber.  And she seems to like it MUCH better.  The side plates had screws on top of the trucks.  It is a very interesting setup actually.  But I'm used to working on computers and had some interesting solutions in the old tool kit for these little screws without dropping the trucks.  Probably spent an hour on the first A, then about 20 min on the second A.  They are getting a good run in as I type, much to the wife's dismay.  Perfect.  

 

Thank you all for your assistance!  

Lots of good advise on the traction tired but what about that batterie ? I understand it has been running for you but if it has been in storage that long especially a PS-1 engine I would pull that thing and toss it! That is most important because if that is week or border line dead that can damage the board. Any PS-1 engine I have had either being in storage or purchasing before I even put voltage to it I pull it and replace it with a MTH green battere. You could also use a BCR for a little more money. For about $10 for a new green battere it is way cheaper insurance than having a PS-1 board go belly up!

If it's the white MTH battery, I'd certainly trash it.  Whenever I get a PS/1 for repair with a white battery, I replace it on the spot.  Testing is not necessary, I know they have to be at the end of their useful life, even if they're still functioning.

Thanks to everyone here, l've already taken care of the battery.  I replaced the white one with a green one.  

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...45#31276248686516445

Has anyone else used this Rubber Rejuvenator yet?

 

I was looking for a place to buy some (looks like Walmart may carry it) but I also have a can of "Technician's Choice Rubber Treatment" spray, TEC 99215.  When I bought my Mini Cooper the guy cleaning it gave me the can he was using.

 

My newly acquired Williams brass 4-6-2 has 4 rubber tires, one of which had a 3/8" long chunk missing.  It came with a set of replacement tires.

 

Should I replace just the bad tire or all 4?  The other 3 seem to be in good condition, except there's some slight surface cracks showing on the rubber (the damaged tire also had these but the underside was fine, the cracks are not deep).  I was figuring I could replace the one bad tire and put some of the rubber rejuvenator (or the TEC 99215 I have) on the other 3.

 

I looked at the MSDS sheets on both but it's like reading a foreign language, unsure if one is better than the other for this purpose.

If you see cracks, I'd replace them all.

 

While I have enough to replace them, I have not found anybody that carries spare tires for older Williams or Weaver imported brass steamers.  The MTH tires are too thick, although they'll fit.  They stick above the tread a bit.

 

This tire was on the back driver and easy to replace, not so sure about the drivers up front but I'll take a look.

 

The Weaver 4-6-0 chassis has the same diameter drivers as this 4-6-2 and I put 2 MTH tires on the rear drivers of that engine, but it ran just fine without them.  I guess not having the groove cut as deep makes some difference in the way it runs w/o tires, I would think a deeper groove might hinder going around a curve.