Milling wheels to accomodate traction tires

Yes and yes.  A very expensive proposition, since you will need entirely new tires - the rims will fall off when cut as you suggest.  You might be lucky and find a stock size of rubber tire to fit.

A hobby is a hobby, but I bet you can find more effective ways to spend $300.

Mikado 4501,

Why don't you get a micrometer and start measuring the wheel\axles sets of various loco's with traction tires and replace the drive axle set or wheels with traction tire wheels. Keep it Lionel.

Don't know if there's a match, but it seems easier than machine work.

If the wheels are simply nickel plated they can be machined to accept traction tires. If they have metal tires pressed over wheels like '40's era steam engines then it would be more involved. Either way you would at least need a metal lathe. With some research you should be able to find tires that would fit. If you had to pay someone to do the work then, like Bob said, it would be costly.

Pete

Boy, I'd try Frog Snot or a substitute before going to all that trouble.  A thin layer often does wonders for locos with limited traction.

There's a more practical solution is you have the space -- just add a plastic bag full of fine lead shot inside the boiler cavity. A lot (read most) driver tires are pressed on, so machining them enough to carry traction tires will make them so thin they may shatter, plus you have to remove the drivers from the axles to machine them, then re-quarter them.

FWIW, I know that Frank Timko used to offer that service, and it was a lot less than $300!  I'd check with him and see if it could be done.

Actually you don't have remove the wheels from the axles. For many steam engine drivers you will have to make a jig to hold them on center. Wheels under about 1 inch or so can be held in a collet. It only take a few minutes once you have the setup.

I added a second traction tire to this starter set 0-8-0 which comes with a single traction tire. For anyone with a lathe its fairly simple. 

Pete

I have an older (and very heavy) brass engine with no traction tire grooves and I've been trying to work out how to improve traction.

The only alternative I can think of to machining is to apply a thin layer of super glue to the contact surface to fix a thin tire in place on the wheel.

This would seem to be an ideal candidate for Bullfrog Snot but, I tried it several times in the past and just ended up with uneven blobs on the wheel contact surface and goo everywhere else!

Does anyone have a step-by-step guide (ideally with pictures) on successful Bullfrog Snot application?

BullFrog Snot has how-to videos.

Thanks, Lee. Neat product!

Great - thanks.

Now I see where I went wrong before!!!!

I'd try BFS if they offered it in a small tube.  I'd never use an entire jar of it and it seems a tube with a long snout would eliminate the need to use a toothpick, plus it should cost less.

Would applying "Blackin-It" to the chromed tires make them adhere better?