Tips in getting an engine to pull better

chinatrain99 posted:

I got a blue “the rock” engine Lionel 6-8068.  The e unit is noisy as is the engine but my biggest complaint is it doesn’t pull worth a darn.   Other than maybe changing traction tires is there anything I can do to get it to pull better?   Thanks, jeff

Add weight.

ADCX Rob posted:

Southwest Hiawatha posted:

Where do you get the lead stick-on weights in retail quantities?

Lots of selections HERE.

I was just out in the garage stealing sinkers from my tackle box.  I’m a little concerned about how to secure the weights.  Hopefully I can find something to run a wire thru

I remember GunrunnerJohn added some of his ammunition as weights to get his locomotives to pull better. 

I don't know much about this loco. Best I can determine is it is an MPC with a single pullmor motor. If you just acquired it, then you should clean and lube the axles and the motor assy.

I just bought a 6-8960 SP U36C with a single pullmor motor in it. It arrived last night. Out of the box it pulled six cars without much problem but it took a lot of power to really get it moving. I was using my MRC Pure Power. After my initial test run to see if it even worked, I disassembled it to clean and lube it. This thing is 40 years old and there is no telling how long it sat up or how long it has been since it was serviced.  I used a conductive lube on the pick-up rollers, a light oil on the trailing truck axle bushings, then I took the cover off of the motor, cleaned the brushes and the commutator plate, cleaned the worm and the shaft ends, lubed the gears, worm and axles on the front truck. It pulled 12 cars from 1957 post-war lionel,  to MPC, K-Line and Railking without any problems and only took about half throttle to run at a good pace. After a few minutes I took it off the track to check it and clean any excess lube off of it and it wasn't even remotely warm to the touch. Servicing made a big difference.

The e-unit is noisy in my as well and I think that is just the way they are supposed to sound.

I use hot glue or epoxy to secure the weights.  Put all the weight you can over the powered truck for a single motored unit.

Stick-on coated steel wheel weights from your local auto center work well for adding weight.   

Conductor Earl posted:

Stick-on coated steel wheel weights from your local auto center work well for adding weight.   

ADCX Rob posted:

ADCX Rob posted:

Southwest Hiawatha posted:

Where do you get the lead stick-on weights in retail quantities?

Lots of selections HERE.

It looked like a good runner in the video - are the traction tires hard or cracked ? It is almost 40 years old...

harbor freight has strips of 1/4 and 1/2 ounce sections of adhesive backed wheel weight

I would go for the traction tires or a 10 amp transformer

chinatrain99 posted:

I was just out in the garage stealing sinkers from my tackle box.  I’m a little concerned about how to secure the weights.  Hopefully I can find something to run a wire thru

sit them on the walk way to determine if it helps before getting all serious about hiding the weight

I’m going to start with traction tires.  Can anyone out there help me with the size I need?   I’m away from home and can’t get to them to measure.   Thanks

Start with the weights, not the traction tires. That’s a very lightweight engine. 

chinatrain99 posted:

Can anyone out there help me with the size I need?

Lionel Part #222-108 found HERE.

.39 each(bulk) at The Train Tender.

If the loco was previously owned and run, you should also clean the driving wheels, including the ones with tires, with some 91% isopropyl alcohol on an lint-free rag.  Old, ribbed cotton underwear works well for this purpose.  Clean your tracks too!

I’ve added about 7 oz and that helped.   The traction tires are slick.  Is there an easy way to get these replaced?

Locos "can't pull" because of 2 separate and unrelated reasons: weight (no adhesion, so it spins) -or- low power (small motor and/or bad gearing for the load; no spinning - it bogs down).

A loco can actually have both problems at once - once you stop the spinning, it bogs down. It's all in the variables. And the train.

One problem is the lame "tires on one side" that K-Line did.  I've seen these have issues, especially on curves.

Is there an easy way to get tires on or do you have to poke and hope to get them on??

The side frames are staked on those, so you'll have to "fish" the ties around the wheels.  I use some dental tools, works pretty good.

chinatrain99 posted:

Is there an easy way...

On the 8068 you have to sneak them behind the truck side frames.