Lionel Pennsylvania 2-10-4 "Texas" Steam Engine #6-28078

The traction tires go on the wheels that have a groove cut in them; typically this is the last pair.  How steep are your grades?

That was a goof in the manual. The loco should only have two traction tires -- one on each side of the rear-most axle. As mentioned above, there will a groove that they are placed in.

TRW

Thanks TRW. I suspected as much about the manual. Although the front wheels are missing the outer lip, it sure looks like there were traction tires on them at some point - just by the way they are smudged. The absence of a lip is probably why the tires were no longer on the wheels. Thank you Dan as well. The grade is the maximum recommended for O gauge. All my Legacy engines work just fine on it. 

No tires on the front wheels.  The "smudge" is probably normal wear, or possibly from a previous owner's attempt to operate the loco on curves sharper than O72.  The smudge might come off with some rubbing alcohol and Q-tips.  Long-wheelbase locos are hard on tires.  With both wheels firmly affixed to the axle, there is no "differential action."  The outside rail is longer than the inside one, so one or both wheels have to skid.  A heavy loco with rubber tires cannot skid easily, which sometimes contributes to jerky operation, or even causing the tires to come off.  This is one of many reasons I'm not a fan of traction tires.

My recommendation: replace the rear tires and operate the loco on O72 track as required.

Bob DeSando posted:

I am hoping someone can help me with a question I have about this older Lionel locomotive. When I acquired it (used), there were no traction tires. The manual states that "four of the drive wheels are fitted with rubber traction tires..." Lacking a diagram that points out which four drive wheels get traction tires, it appears to me that two go on the last right and left wheels in the rear of the engine, and two on the first right and left wheels in the front of the engine. However, I have been told the front two wheels are not designed for traction tires. The engine has a problem going up a hill on my layout with its tender and 7 heavyweight passenger cars. I think it is because my hobby shop only placed two traction tires on the engine instead of four. If anyone is familiar with this engine, can you sort this out for me. Is the manual right or wrong? Thanks!

First question is what's the "Hill" like? How steep and long is the grade? Transition from and back to flat? Curved? Any mark left from someone placing a tire on the front driver should easily come off with solvent. If you have slipping with the new tires are they the correct size? I've discovered some hobby shops lump tires into one size "Oh yeah we have those" when Lionel has seemingly more widths and thicknesses than Goodyear. An undersize tire will allow the slippery wheels to touch the rails rather than the traction tire. Other than the idiotic design using a flapper smoke unit this is a pretty reliable and good looking locomotive. It's size really impresses your guests and can be touched without things breaking off!

Ted S posted:

 " This is one of many reasons I'm not a fan of traction tires."

Amen, brother !  J