Since I had my 2-4-2 (8042) cleaned and lubed a few weeks ago, its traction tire keeps falling off the rim, and then flaps around the rods. How do I keep it on? Can I glue it ?
Be sure the wheel and tire is clean of all the lube. Seems like back in the 80’s we used rubber cement. I found a bottle [dried up] as I was unpacking some 1985 train stuff Sunday PM. When I saw it, I said, " That was to make traction tires stay on." Since the 80’s, there has probably been some better.
Hi Doug,
There is two posibilities,
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you got some oil on the inside of the rims and that is why they are sliping off.
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the tires are worn and it’s time to replace them with new ones
even if you got oil on the inside, it’s best to replace them. They should not be more than a buck each. MTH are $0.75 each.
Some folks use plyobond instead of traction tires. I never have but plan to experiment with the stuff. Trick is to apply it on smoothly and evenly.
An 8042 is an early Lionel MPC if I recall ?( I have one that came in the Grand Trunk and Western set). The traction tires are probably at least 30 years old if they are original, and are long overdue to be replaced.
I’ll bet this traction tire is new (from the overhaul) and I’ll bet it has lubricant on the wheel. Thanks for the advice. I guess I have to take the rod off to replace one. I’ll look for one and then how to replace it.
Probably tractiontyres could also be glued on with such fast glues (we call it second glue) I use it for almost everything, metal and rubber is a good combination to glue it with that.
Try this
Turn the engine upside down, apply power to it to get the wheels spinning slowly, and press a Q-tip saturated with alcohol into the groove. Change the area you are pressing against the wheel frequently, and keep doing this until you no longer get any sort of black crud on the Q-tip.
After that, soak the tire itself in alcohol for a few minutes, let it dry, and re-install it. This should keep it on.
Now that sounds like a good way to clean them up.
ben10ben;
Once you have cleaned the wheel and tire as you stated, then it would
be a good idea to apply some glue to the wheel groove and then put
the tire in the groove to get a good bond.
Just my $.02
I would not glue the tires on for two reasons.
First, tires will eventually need replacing. If you use CA, or some other type of permanant glue, it will be very, very difficult to remove the tire when this time comes. Glue may seem like a good short-term “band-aid”, but it will cause you problems when you go to remove the tire.
Second, the traction tires act as sort of a “fail-safe” mechanism when properly installed. In many engines, the motor doesn’t output a lot of torque, and is relatively easy to stall. If you find yourself in a situation where the motor is stalling, you’re better off throwing a tire than burning up the motor. This doesn’t apply to high-end Pittman-equipped engines, but the low-end steamers and diesels with their under-sized spur-geared motor should be a big concern.
I think Ben has a great idea on cleaning the wheels. I also would reframe from using any glue.
The replacement tire is one buck ($1.00 each). This is a $2.00 maintenance item for at minimum $250.00 engine up to over $1000.00 engine.
Are we being penny wise and pound fullish.
tom
I have a chessie flyer. My traction tire was dried and wouldn’t stay on. I cleaned it with alcohol and soaked it in silicone spray. The silicone spray brought it back to life and its still the original one from 76 or 77. I run it and it stays put without any glue. Glue is probably a good Idea but I don’t like to put glue on my engines.
Good Luck
Angelo
Doug,
Three or four years ago I bought a used GP-9, and its traction tire soon began to wiggle and then peal off the wheel. I took the easy way out and bought a new tire. It didn’t take long to install. I’ve had no further trouble.