Advice Needed: AHM U-25C Wheels

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

OK Forum friends, I need some advice.

I have three AHM U-25Cs in my engine fleet. (Yes, they’re older than I am. But they’re for a prototype that I need for my era and other ones are expensive and hard to find. I also know they have the cookie cutter wheels as well but I run Code 100 rail so that’s not a problem there.) I was doing my annual maintance checks on my fleet and discovered that one of them has lost its traction tires on both sides. These are my only engines with tracton tires.

I see two options to solve the problem (and be preventative for the other two):

  1. Replacement traction tires. (Found a source that has OEM ones. One package is enough for one engine.)
  2. Get a bottle of Bullfrog Snot. (I know I have one but at the moment it seems to have disappeared on me. I used it for traction on some engine wheels for a now abandoned project idea.) I don’t need it for traction on any other engines as my layout is flat (or at least as close as I can get it).

I’m not sure which is the better option. Or in the alternative if someone has a better option, I’d be all ears for those as well.

2

I feel you would be better off with the tires. They lasted many years.

Pete.

3

I would go with tires also. Here are some.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175068764527?epid=26009351226&hash=item28c2e9596f:g:~FsAAOSwfgRcHqf~&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4GT9IOlg3aJkRmjX4Bc%2BQL28dYmEHjBqk%2FA5NTcuV6q2tjKArMp0G6W2X4lu0MCyF2B17XaMmHjMBEk%2BpfrgCuSuiP7AkFsDmqeP3VzbQNnBpDbycDP2HlnG0iGDKahfnAKFHTONtENunmNDGP%2FaD89AVhlV98b%2FQh%2Fs5gLZuOGAXdQHrUsyby9G0b86tvdPaMuJ%2FC4lHvfAzlx4XsPFTdOpEIl3JeLAVJQ%2Fq8HbO6o2kmVwy%2Bf0c2qvyg010UwdKfmY46P7eNlLlxVe93z3ZM7%2BDaV%2BR2ds03Rqvn6WOrps|tkp%3ABk9SR6D6seiEYg

If it were me, I would pick up some extras…

4

Another option to consider is full new wheels from NWSL: AHM/Rivarssi U25C Upgrade Wheels, HO 40"/110 x .120" and 2.0mm – NorthWest Short Line (nwsl.com)

Kind of an expensive option compared to new tires, but you get RP-25 flanges and smooth performance!

5

Bullfrog Snot worked well on my Rivarossis and Mantuas that had the same issue.

Simon

6

The tires were what I was leaning toward as well.

That actually would be the least expensive option but one must account for the time factor for application.

[quote user=“Darth Santa Fe”]

Another option to consider is full new wheels from NWSL: AHM/Rivarssi U25C Upgrade Wheels, HO 40"/110 x .120" and 2.0mm – NorthWest Short Line (nwsl.com)

Kind of an expensive option compared to new t

7

Finding your bottle of Bullfrog Snot in your train room is probably the lowest cost option [:)].

Simon

8

Yes, it would be, But, I know it’s not in the train room, which happens to be an unheated garage. It is somewhere in my house. Of course, where in the house is the $64,000 question as it were.

9

The NWSL set is actually 6 grounded and 6 insulated to replace all 12 original wheels, but that would get expensive to replace all the wheels on 3 engines! I’d also go with new tires as the cheap option.

10

You need a new approach. I suggest that you search for something you need more urgently than the Bullfrog Snot.

You won’t find that, whatever it might be. However, the Snot will immediately appear.

11

Expen$ive I know, but here is Rapido’s take

12

Rapido’s model is a U25B, not a U25C like the OP has.

13

I would suggest doing this to one locomotive and determining if it is worth it.

If so, do the other two as you are able.

-Kevin

14

Probably very true. I found some missing liquid electrical tape when I was talking to my cat so anything’s possible.

That is also an idea I will have to think about about as well.

15

I have no way of knowing if you actually need the traction tires, but none of my diesels need them. If only one truck is powered, they might be beneficial.

I have found upgraded HO scale RP-25 compliant wheelsets to be a very good feature. Everything just runs better compared to the pizza-cutters.

Now I no longer even consider a locomotive that does not have them.

-Kevin

16

I finally went ahead and ordered a set of the NWSL wheels. In the process, I have come up with a new, related question: Will I need to get/borrow a gear puller to get the existing axles/gears ready for the wheels as the wheels aren’t going anywhere from the sets that I checked from my parts box?

Thank you for any continued assistance that can be provided.