Premier diesel..i wish MTH would sell all solid non traction wheel sets

Traction tires have been used since postwar.  I doubt the mfrs are leaning that direction

aussteve posted:

Traction tires have been used since postwar.  I doubt the mfrs are leaning that direction

 

2 of my fleet of 6 axle diesel units i dropped solids in place of the traction wheels..but alas i have run out of solid wheel sets.

Willygee....I need more also.  On 6 axle diesels I keep the 2 rail center axle on, works on my 120 curves. Look for cheap 4 axle dummy units.  The other thing i do is get a wheel puller and make your drive wheels only have one traction tire per axle, every axle gets a single tire and a metal wheel this way the all steel wheel will slip in a curve.

It is worse in MTH G scale. You can't buy the wheel sets. So to get rid of the tires, you'd have to rip apart an engine to get extras. The few dummy engines they released, don't have gears so you can't use those either.

 I got used to having them. I would prefer not to have them. If an engine(s) can't pull a train, I add more engines. USA trains and Aristocraft had gotten rid of the tires on their diesel engines.

aussteve posted:

Traction tires have been used since postwar.  I doubt the mfrs are leaning that direction

 

American Flyer used them in both prewar and postwar locos. They were Vulcanized on the rim, so they never came off. Mr Spock would never allow it.

clem k posted:

Willygee....I need more also.  On 6 axle diesels I keep the 2 rail center axle on, works on my 120 curves. Look for cheap 4 axle dummy units.  The other thing i do is get a wheel puller and make your drive wheels only have one traction tire per axle, every axle gets a single tire and a metal wheel this way the all steel wheel will slip in a curve.

Interesting..so the front axle is solid(original),middle is a premiere 2 rail with the worm gear and the rear axle is half solid and traction?

Clem, great idea for allowing one wheel to slip in a curve. Most often that is where we loose a traction tire due to the resistance created on one side in a curve. Less resistance also means less current draw on the motor. I like that.

I hope we never go back to days without rubber tires! I have grades and without them engines won’t pull, magna traction or anything else  is a joke on grades compared to rubber tires. I’m not saying rubber tires maybe could be made better! Though lol

My layout is level so I’ve made the decision to no longer replace tires. Not only is replacement a PITA on some engines, they leave a skid mark coating on my Atlas nickel track. I typically stage and start consists  at the same location and the track in that area quickly accumulates build up requiring Goo Gone. I can see where tires are crucial for folks with grades or perhaps haul heavy consists with a single engine. I’m happy not having to deal with either situation. After 20 years (time flies don’t it!) I’m finally good with “just say no” with regards to replacement!

Is it necessary to replace the notched wheels with solid?

Rich

willygee posted:

clem k posted:

Willygee....I need more also.  On 6 axle diesels I keep the 2 rail center axle on, works on my 120 curves. Look for cheap 4 axle dummy units.  The other thing i do is get a wheel puller and make your drive wheels only have one traction tire per axle, every axle gets a single tire and a metal wheel this way the all steel wheel will slip in a curve.

Interesting..so the front axle is solid(original),middle is a premiere 2 rail with the worm gear and the rear axle is half solid and traction?

Actually center axle is 2 rail,   both front and rear axle get one drive tire. This way I still have two traction tires, but more important to me, I spilt the pulling power of traction tires to both ends of the 3 axle truck. When traction tires are only on 1 axle pretty much all the power goes to that axle everything else is just along for the ride.  This is even worse on steam engines because all power goes though the drive rods, and all that power goes to the traction tire axle.

Clem

Smoke Stack Lightnin posted:

My layout is level so I’ve made the decision to no longer replace tires. Not only is replacement a PITA on some engines, they leave a skid mark coating on my Atlas nickel track. I typically stage and start consists  at the same location and the track in that area quickly accumulates build up requiring Goo Gone. I can see where tires are crucial for folks with grades or perhaps haul heavy consists with a single engine. I’m happy not having to deal with either situation. After 20 years (time flies don’t it!) I’m finally good with “just say no” with regards to replacement!

Is it necessary to replace the notched wheels with solid?

Rich

 

I have a MAC80 (lead engine in a 5 mu all power) where 2 traction tires were missing(not sure how i missed that)..running at dark and silent/stealth at 1 or 2 smph over an Atlas 7,5 turnout the MAC80 in the mu would false start..lights on and sound..odd but nice it still maintained proper speed. Installed missing tires..all is well.