Spare parts for engines

Smoke unit wicks

Smoke unit fan motors

Traction tires

Pickup rollers

Just bring a spare engine. You do not want to strip down an engine at an operating session. Parts and pieces will be lost.

Test run the main engine before leaving home. A quick lap will do.

I don't bring any spare parts.  As stated, I bring spare engines.  I have no desire to be disassembling my $2,000 Big Boy on the road.  As for at home, since I am an MTH and Lionel service center, I have lots of spare parts.

@Godale03 posted:

Hello,

My question is... Is there any spare parts that you all recommend I keep on hand? Are there anything that tends to break more frequently? I run Lionel and MTH locomotives and Lionel, MTH and Atlas rolling stock. Thanks!

From what eras/timeframes (e.g., Post-War, 80s/90s, TMCC, etc.)?

Thanks for the info. However, I meant any spare parts that I should have on hand at home. I didn’t mean traveling to run engines. I should have been clearer, my apologies. In RC you travel to tracks so I understand where my question was misleading.

Also all my engines and rolling stock are modern legacy and dcs. Nothing is older than the early 2000’s.

Thanks Guys!

Tom

@NJCJOE posted:

Smoke unit wicks

Smoke unit fan motors

Traction tires

Pickup rollers

Are the pickup rollers universal between engines and rolling stock?

Same question for the smoke unit fan motor.... is it a universal part or engine specific?

I know the traction tires are engine specific.

Thanks!

Tom

@Godale03 posted:

Are the pickup rollers universal between engines and rolling stock?

Same question for the smoke unit fan motor.... is it a universal part or engine specific?

I know the traction tires are engine specific.

There are only a handful of different smoke motors, but not even close on the pickup rollers, there are probably at least a hundred different styles on either the Lionel or MTH parts sites.

OK, maybe more than 100...

@NJCJOE posted:

Smoke unit wicks

Smoke unit fan motors

Traction tires

Pickup rollers

Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but AFAIK, smoke unit wicks are made by buying the material (from various sources) and cutting it to fit.   

At one time, there was a traction tire chart for MTH locos.  Is it still accurate?  Is there any kind of a cross-reference to show which tires also fit Lionel and Williams?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

There are only a handful of different smoke motors, but not even close on the pickup rollers, there are probably at least a hundred different styles on either the Lionel or MTH parts sites.

OK, maybe more than 100...

Ok. I guess I will replace these as they go bad. No need to stock a million different parts. My luck is I’d have all but the one I needed anyway. 😁

@Godale03 posted:

Ok. I guess I will replace these as they go bad. No need to stock a million different parts. My luck is I’d have all but the one I needed anyway. 😁

Among the types of parts that have been discussed, pickup rollers are probably the most durable.  It takes a lot to render one unusable.