MTH Engine In Need of Assistance

Is this 3-rail or 2-rail?  Is it a rubber tire, or a metal tire? My answer depends on your responses.

Fred

3 Rail MTH Premiere Royal Hudson.

The rim is metal, the traction tire is positioned around the metal rim.

This unit goes on the engine wheel which is metal with "ridges".

Thanks Dave

Neither solution I have would be "safe" in this situation. I'm going to suggest you call MTH on Monday unless someone else has come across this before.  Sorry.

No worries....Thanks Fred

Dave

I would also like you to talk to MTH about this. I have to believe these tires should be press fit. So they should not come loose. I'd wait to hear from them.

You could try some type of epoxy or even Gorilla super glue. That doesn't seem like the best solution. There's a shop that helps us guys running 2 rail that need conversions from 3 rail. Joe F at Baldwin Forge knows how to make tires and press them on. Maybe he could add something to make this tire work permanently?

Fwiw, this is/was a common problem with Lionels Century Club II Niagara.

 I believe most folks just to applied glue and snapped it back into place.

I'm not implying this is the best solution, especially if MTH is willing to help. However, this HAS indeed happened before albeit with a Lionel product.

Thanks Guys

This engine is long out of warranty.  I will call MTH to see what their thoughts are.

The rim does fit on the wheel so I'm thinking since it's metal to metal.....maybe JB Weld.

Dave

Loctite.  Available in most automotive stores.  You have some work time and it works perfect.  J.B. Weld is a great product but not for your job.   Stay clear of super glue.  The key is working time.

Here's how the pros @  strasburg do it.....

(however , i do not recommend this for your particular loco.......)

I'd use the Loctite 680 Retaining Compound, it's specifically made for this kind of job.

Marty and John.....Thanks once again for your expertise.

I will pick up Loctite on Monday and post results.

Neat Vid Penn!

Thanks Guys for all the replies......this OGR forum never fails.

Dave

Put the rim in hot water before pushing it on the wheel so that it expands a bit. This way whatever you use to hold it won't get cleaned off the wheel as you push it back on. If it's loose enough to spin it, once it's on the wheel, give it half a turn to spread the Loctite evenly before it cools and shrinks.

Makes sense....Thanks Dave....I'll try it.

Dave

"Loctite.  Available in most automotive stores."

Yes - or even CA if the tire seems to want to fit snugly in a test fit.

I have seen this on a couple of MTH steamers (one was mine - a USRA Premier Pacific) before, but not on Lionel - not that proves anything as I don't have any statistics. The CA worked, apparently.

Properly returned (not crooked) to place and Loctited, etc, in place, this is not really a deadly sin.