Traction tires on Lionel BB-1

I haven't done this on my BB-1, but for some of the similar type locomotives, I rotate the motor and hold the tire and just let it turn around until I get it mounted.  It's harder to describe than to do the task.

I remember it is a %**$@%%#$^

Some of them are a PITA, maybe I'll be careful with mine so I don't have to replace them!

It should just be the two screws (one at the front of the truck casting and one slightly off center at the other end).  I believe mine was pretty tight the first time I removed it, and there is a wire to the pickup you have to be very careful about when disassembling and reassembling.

As you can see, there is a lot of diecast decoration preventing access to the wheels. Releasing the 2 screws lets the wheels on the opposite end become  accessible, but it is the red wires for the center rail contactor/rollers that prevent the tires wheels to move much. I took the cab off, but the wiring is such a mess inside, I decided against that approach, which would have involved unsoldering the wires. I thought about cutting some of the diecast material away, but rejected that also. Eventually I did get the tires on. I have an upper level in the layout, which the engine could not climb up to, now it can.

The tires were removed earlier because the engine would stall going across switches. It needed those 2 wheels to get the ground. I have since added a wire between the two units so that is less likely to happen.

I just finished replacing one of the tires. The "Trick" is to cut the cable tie holding wires together inside the cab. Then there is enough slack in the wires so that the wheels can be moved away from the body, allowing room to get the new tire on.

I put a new cable tie in place after doing this. Otherwise the loose wires will hit the flywheel on the motor.