Hey Ya’ll
Has anyone ever added traction tires to the wheels of their Postwar Steamers?
If so, where can you get the traction tires to put on the engines?
I’d like to do this to any Pre-1950 or some bad Magfne Traction Pullers that I may aquire in the future.
steel rails
Hello Steel Rails! This can be a Tricky proposition you are thinking of as a Traction Tire cannot just fit on most Postwar Drive Wheels as a groove would have to be cut on the running surface in order to hold on the Tire. Also, the machining work required for this may be more than you might be willing or able to spend & One of the Drive Wheels would have to be pulled off the Axle which would enlarge the hole of the Driver making the fit on the Axle loose if done improperly. It may be better to leave well enough alone. Sorry to rain on your parade so to speak. Just want to save you some possible grief. That’s All. Take Care.
Okay,
Thanks for telling me before I put them on my 2055.
steel rails
Wasn’t there an article in CTT about this a while back? Maybe I read it somewhere else. In any case, the author did manage to glue traction tires on a postwar steamer with CA (super glue). As I recall, he put them on the rear drivers - one on each side. The engine was a little “jacked-up” in the back as it went down the track, but I guess it worked.
Anybody remember seeing this in CTT? I think it was in the last 2 or 3 years…
Regards,
Clint
Hello Steel Rails! If your Engine is a 2055, Contact Lionel & see if they can re-furbi***he Magne-Traction for your 2055. Or give Dr.Tinker’s Toy Train Parts a try as he has a website & should be able to help you out. Let us know what happens. Take Care.
Hey,
The Magne-Traction is good. I thought adding traction tires to it would allow it to pull longer trains up steep gradients.
When I get out of college and get a good paying job, I’d like to build a large layout. I’d like to have a Big Mountain Range from one side of the room to another, bloking the views of each side of the layout. There will be two yards. One on each side. There would be two operators, with walkie talkies to order cars from each other, and operate the layout, switching and all without touching the trains.
I want puniching mountain grades (or at least make it look that way) and lots of room to run at least 5 trains at once. Passenger trains wil run on a schedule, and freights will be brought into the yards after thay arrive to be broken down. The engines will be changed out every so often, and, If I just want the trains to run, I’ll make it so I can change from that operation, to just truning on the power and letting the two trains run.
Of course, If I was a really magnififcent layout like that, I’ll either have to go into the Realestate business or ecome a Dentist or Doctor. But, hey, with a wonderful layout like I just described, it will be worth it.
steel rails
steel rails, I have never run into a poor Orthodontist. I took my son in every week or 2 for 1.5 years. He was perhaps the happiest man I ever met! He did have a beautiful family as well and I saw him looking at trains in a train store with his kids. Good luck in school. Your dream layout sounds neat. I gave grades on mine, about 2.5 %. I run Lionel steam locos with traction tires so I can’t offer any advice on magne traction.
Hi to all
For me I DO NOT LIKE.
I think make loss the essence of “Railroad”
Rubberroad don’t have sense.
Andre.
Couldn’t you accompli***he same goal by adding some weight ? I’m more familiar with older Marx locos - the ones with plastic shells are very light.
In reply to using super glue where do you plan on finding your tires when they come off?
Lee
Your plan to use rubber tires will negate the Magnetraction on the wheels with the tires. The steel wheel must be in contact with the steel rail to get any real benefit. You can test the results of the tires on Magnetraction by placing a thin layer of cardboard between the rail head and the wheel - maybe a couple of business cards or the back of a tablet.
You’d have to ask the author of the article that question. I’m almost positive it was Ray Plummer. I wish I could find that issue of CTT…
Some folks swear by Pliobond. They say it can be used in place of traction tires and lasts longer.
http://www.ablehobby.com/pliobond_adhesive.htm
I do the opposite and take the traction tires off the engines when they break or wear down. it gives me more of an excuse to play with the throttle and I run short trains anyway …
Me too, Doug, but with long trains.
Doug, Bob,
When my traction tire comes off, the locomotive wobbles