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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2019 12:02:04 GMT
I personally haven't had any issues with them in awhile but they are a pain in the butt when they do go. I often wondered why we need them in the first place for heavy engines like articulated steamers or diesels we can lash up with multiple units. Hudsons, northerns, challengers, big boys I don't think tires are needed
As a side project, I've been thinking of getting two sets of drivers if MTH has them and swapping out the traction tire equipped drivers on my challenger. I wouldn't mind some realistic wheel slip with a long heavy train but with two sets of drivers on that bad boy I don't think it would be a issue pulling.
So what do you think? Time to go? Stay? This is something I'm going to ask MTH and Lionel at York if I get the chance.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2019 12:18:52 GMT
I rarely have any problems with traction tires and the few times I had to change them it wasn't difficult.
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Post by thebigcrabcake on Sept 25, 2019 12:32:45 GMT
Bullfrog Snot is easy way to replace traction tires with a substitute material.
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Post by fabforrest on Sept 25, 2019 13:51:44 GMT
Thank the maker for traction tires!
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Post by laz57 on Sept 25, 2019 14:13:15 GMT
No big problem for me. I get traction tires at YORK from the MTH parts booth for a buck apiece. A little time and a few homemade paper clip helpers, you get them on lickity split. Lionel’s newer traction tires are way to soft and these are the ones I replace more often. MTHs still have a bunch engines I never replaced yet.
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Post by dennym57 on Sept 25, 2019 14:44:18 GMT
Bullfrog Snot is easy way to replace traction tires with a substitute material. I have used Bullfrog snot on my engines and friends engines. Once you get the technique down it's easy peasy japanesey and it last. I've only had to reapply once in four years. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2019 14:54:39 GMT
Last Christmas my Berk got hung up on a switch (first time ever) as I was in the kitchen cooking something. It burned the traction tires right off!
The only downside is that the tires leave ugly rubber marks on your track when pulling long consists over time. Yuck.
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Post by Adam on Sept 25, 2019 15:35:15 GMT
Bullfrog Snot is easy way to replace traction tires with a substitute material. I'd argue that applying the snot is easy. Acquiring, however, the snot from the bullfrog is probably a bit tricky.  |
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Sept 25, 2019 15:42:12 GMT
I have used the Bullfrog snot on N scale with great results. It is finicky when applying it, but you can get a good tire if you don’t mind having a few failures at the start.
I used to have air cleaners in my house that “ionized” the air, but basically created tons of “O-Zone” that played havoc with anything rubber in the same room. I had tires that fell off display engines that were never run. O-zone causes rubber to decay at a high rate...
Tom
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Post by Spice7 on Sept 25, 2019 15:51:32 GMT
I prefer the traction tires.
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Post by Country Joe on Sept 25, 2019 16:18:37 GMT
Gary, I've only had to replace one traction tire and it was easy to do so I have no problem with them. I'd think that replacing a locomotive's drivers would be considerably more difficult than changing an occasional traction tire. I don't think it's worth the effort, however, if you do, then do it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2019 21:33:39 GMT
Gary, I've only had to replace one traction tire and it was easy to do so I have no problem with them. I'd think that replacing a locomotive's drivers would be considerably more difficult than changing an occasional traction tire. I don't think it's worth the effort, however, if you do, then do it. Sadly the traction tires coming from Lionel are junk, they are to thick, uneven, make the engine bounce and I change them with MTH tires as soon as I can. I had a rash of like all engines at once needing tire changes. Hence I started thinking about why we need them? Two rail doesn’t use them or need them. |
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Sept 25, 2019 21:53:28 GMT
Here is a tire on a Lionel S-2 I bought new. The second pic shows the same engine with a MTH tire installed. Quite a difference... Tom   |
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Post by Craignor on Sept 25, 2019 22:09:11 GMT
Gary, You will shoot your eye out kid! |
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Post by harborbelt70 on Sept 25, 2019 22:55:54 GMT
I just voted to get rid of them but (a) I don't know in favor of what and (b) it was a protest vote anyway.
Seriously, I have seen many traction tires thrown off the rim of a wheel; the latest was on a VL Niagara at no more than about its 10th minute of running. So an otherwise fine product from Lionel let down by a cheapie/substandard part, as it appears Lionel is now using for their tires.
Fortunately, neither this incident nor any other I have had with a steamer actually meant that the tire had to be replaced rather than just put back in position. I would probably balk at disassembling steamer running gear to install a new one if I had a tire shredded. I am confident that a die cast steamer is heavy enough to pull the normally modest loads I put on mine without a tire or tires.
But definitely not so with the plastic diesels I have, where a defective tire has to be replaced or the pulling capacity goes way down. I live with that but don't appreciate having to substitute MTH for Lionel parts.
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