Traction tires kept coming off, anyone run without them?

Hi Paul.  If you use the advanced search function of the forum, you'll come up with quite a few opinions on this topic.  Some folks, indeed, do run without them, some us Bullfrog Snot, some use auto engine gasket maker.  Some actually buy replacements.

I'll admit I run at least half of my engines without the traction tires.  Especially the heavy ones.  They don't seem to need them!  Now if you were running uphill a lot I could see the need for them possibly.  I myself have a pretty level layout with no inclines, though even a slight incline shouldn't matter.  So far each time one comes off I just take it on off and run the engine without.  I haven't had any slippage so far.    I would leave them off next time they come off and watch to see if you have any slipping of the wheels, and if not you're good to run without I'd say!  

I am/was in the same boat as you and as they fell off just left them off!  All of the ones who lost them are doing fantastic if not better so far because there isn't anything to hang up in the running gear of the steamers!

My K-line CNJ tank loco would throw a tire all the time.  Based on info here and the fact that it never pulls more that 4 passenger cars and never climbs more than a 3% grade, I just cut it off.  There was no change in performance.  

Which engines have the "flat tire", and which track you own, will have an impact on the crazy decision to run around naked. My diesel, and rectifier, if without a traction tire, will limp under load at best. One steamer does fine without it. Another just wobbled, and tipped so bad I stuck two thin O-rings on it till I could get a real tire again. Other thoughts might be eventual wear on the grooves edges, and track. Turnout, and crossover tracking performance is where I saw some intermediate issues too. Good luck

No tires here best thing I did was get rid of them. I have a video on the 3rail scale forum.

Google "100 foot train blissfield michigan"

Clem 

There is more discussion of this on this forum than I would ever imagine.  When one of my locomotives throws a traction tire, that is a sign the tire is due for replacement.  It generally only occurs when I have a layout with a grade.  When the tires are worn, I replace them and never have an issue again for many years.  Personally, I think many of these other fixes are solutions in search of a problem. 

The problem with running without traction tires is that the groove edges get worn from the rails. I eliminated most of that problem by going with scale wheels, but needless to say my choice isn't for everyone. If you clean the groove with alcohol, you can use black silicone gasket cement to fill it in and it should hold up pretty well.

When they go, I leave them off unless "performance" suffers. I run mostly steam and I have no grades, though, of course, a curve is the same as a modest grade.

I really hate them - the entire idea just annoys me, especially on expensive, scale models.

Put them on toy train set locos, fine. They are asked to pull 14% grades, and I don't care. But an adult, $1200, 18lb loco should be run in an adult fashion, and if your drivers are slipping, your loco is too light, or your train is too heavy or your grade is too extreme, or all or some of the above - just like the real thing.

Also, what was with the idea of chroming drivers? No wonder we needed Goodyears on them. Plain steel has a much better COF. 

I realize that the TT disease is chronic and can now never be expunged from the 3RO world, and I "accept" it - but it's still embarrassing. Plus, the very idea of putting an electrical insulator - the "rubber" tire - into an electrical circuit is just off on the face of it. Some of those third-rail roller pickup problems that can't be found are actually due to trying to run electricity through neoprene - from the outside rails. Good luck with that.

OK, that's off my chest. Whew.

I have a 2.9 percent grade on my layout and run 30 plus cars up it daily... need those traction tires. I change them out regardless of the time, pain, and profanity to replace them.

I never bother replacing broken traction tires.  Engines run just fine without them.

Joe

I've had traction tires break in years past, and replaced them. I never had them expand to the point they'll no longer stay on while running.

Paul,

Never Ever!! run w/o traction tires. You will ruin the drivers and you will be very unhappy with the lack of performance. Regardless of what some say, the ability to install traction tires correctly is a learned skill.

Read the last sentence in "J Daddy's" post.

God Bless,

"Pappy"

Yes, Pappy, it seems whenever I try to fix something train related the expletives fly, LOL.

I run a lot of locos without them, most notably my Vision CC2, which doesn't see to mind a bit.

All part of the fun.  Personally, I enjoy a project like this as much as building something on the layout.

I'm a proponent of replacing traction tires with silicone sealant.  I can send you photos and instructions if you like.  My email is in my profile.

.....

Dennis

But an adult, $1200, 18lb loco should be run in an adult fashion, and if your drivers are slipping, your loco is too light, or your train is too heavy or your grade is too extreme, or all or some of the above - just like the real thing.

Sorry but an 18 lb. locomotive is nowhere's near the real thing. Heck a 250 ton 1:1 locomotive would have to weigh in at over 5 tons in o gauge.

I had an MTH E8 that I picked up on the bay.  The TTs were old and threw right away.  Popped on a new set and boom!  Fixed and stayed that way.  Getting them on was a bear though... 

Speaking of traction. New tires for my Z06. Got my 44th kill the next day after mounting them. I like trains, but I like racing better.

OK Ok I have been drinking tonight. Mea Culpa.

Ron

You are right, it is no where near the real thing.  A 250 Ton 1:1 loco in O Scale would weigh 4.5 lbs. not 18 lbs.

I've never been a fan of traction tires, although I can relate to the need for them at times. I always try running a locomotive without them at first and add them only if necessary. A well designed and manufactured locomotive really should need them and as a generally rule I find that lower price point models need traction tires more often. Traction tires also become more of a necessity when using grades, more/heavier rolling stock and tighter curves. If you can run without them I say go with it though. Tires are cars not trains. Even the whitewalls on an American Flyer are painted on.

Since initial posting about this, I've taken three more MTH Premier steamers out of storage. Besides dealing with batteries that won't hold a charge, all three engine's traction tires throw off after running just a couple of loops. 5-6 years storage and the tires become loose around the wheel, not to the naked eye, but loose enough they throw off while running. The tires themselves look okay, plenty of elasticity but they must stretch over time while on the wheels in the box.

I super glue all my traction tires on. Have done this for years. That's all I need to say. It works.

Paul,

In years past I informed my customers to change TT whenever an engine has been stored over 90 days. After all they're cheap.

God Bless,

"Pappy"

I use Crazy Glue myself.  Never had a traction tire come off. On some diesel engines I add magnetraction by pulling the wheels, drilling and honing the axle bearings to size and using  magnetration axles.