0-8-0 traction tire alternatives?

[peteski]

Try Atlas part 420017, the traction tires for the RS-3.   I used something like that on my Kato E8 after I cut a groove for a tire.  I bet those will fit on the BLI E7.  The wheel diameters are similar.

I wonder if those would also work on Victor's 0-8-0?

[davefoxx]

Try Atlas part 420017, the traction tires for the RS-3.   I used something like that on my Kato E8 after I cut a groove for a tire.  I bet those will fit on the BLI E7.  The wheel diameters are similar.

Hi, Max.  That's good information, except that I plan to replace the traction-tired wheelset with a non-traction-tired wheelset, so to eliminate the traction tires and to simultaneously improve electrical conductivity to the DCC decoder with sound.  The E7 is heavy, so, at least for my needs, it doesn't require traction tires for good tractive effort.

Thanks,
DFF

[mmagliaro]

Those might work on the 0-8-0.  I really do not remember what I used.  I used "some tires" I had in
my spare tire box.  But they look like they could be old RS-11 or RS-3 tires, sliced a little thinner to fit into
the 0-8-0 grooves.

As for traction, if the Broadway E7 will do it for ya without a traction tire, great.  But the Kato E8 is heavy
too, and I was surprised at how little it could manage up a relatively modest 1.7% grade.  I wanted it to at least
pull my 9-car SP&S passenger train and it could manage 6-7 cars tops until I put the tire on.

I suppose if I had no grades, or only really shallow ones, I would have left it.  More pickup is always better than
a traction tire unless you need the pull.

[RAILCAT]

You could also try heatshrink tubing cutting a thin slice to fit.
Then shrinking on with soldering iron held nearby.

Pick a tube just slightly larger than the wheel.

[nkalanaga]

Be careful not to melt the insulation in the wheel!

[peteski]

Be careful not to melt the insulation in the wheel!

Yeah, the wheel center on that model is plastic. The insulation on brass steamers is usually some sort of paper product.  But even if the heat shrink tubing is thin enough for a traction tire, it will thicken up as it shrinks. What I would worry about is the uneven thickness around the perimeter of the wheel (due to uneven heating of the tubing while shrinking it).  That would make the model bounce or wobble.

[RAILCAT]

If the use of heat is a concern then perhaps use a slightly
smaller than the groove heat shrink tube and just stretch it over the wheel.