Author Topic: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0  (Read 1909 times)

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wm3798

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Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« on: June 29, 2020, 11:15:49 PM »
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Got this gem and it's a sweet runner.  But I noticed it's a little anemic.


On closer inspection, I discovered that both back drivers are missing their traction tires.
Anyone have experience with parts from Athearn, who now owns this design...?
Or can I get generic traction tires from a reliable source?
Lee
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glakedylan

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brokemoto

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2020, 11:29:10 PM »
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Stewart/Virnex sells or sold generic N scale traction tires for both steam and diesel.  They even sell a tool that make it easy to get them onto diesel wheelsets.  You can make something similar for steam.  I have done it with old Chapstick® tubes.

I had to replace one or two on one of mine.  Let me run upstairs and see if I still have the locomotive. Further, I will look in my details bag or parts boxes and see if I have something that will fit.

mmagliaro

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2020, 11:56:31 PM »
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Maybe the tires from a Bachmann 2-8-0 would work.  The drivers are a little bigger, but  might do.

You can also try these folks: https://lovetrainhobbies.com

They sell a lot of tires in many diameters and widths.  I tried their tires once before and they were just a little too thick and too stiff for what I was trying to use them on, but you can probably get a perfect size.  The drivers are .300 on the MDC 2-8-0 across the tread = 7.62mm.  So I guess the 7mm?   They make 4 different 7mm varieties (different width and thickness). 


brokemoto

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2020, 12:47:44 AM »
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Are both aft driver pairs missing them, or just the flanged pair?  These things came with traction tires on both aft driver pairs.  The middle driver pairs are blind.  It appears that the tire channel on the blind pair is different from that on the flanged pair.

These things can short out certain turnouts if they are missing their traction tires.  Ask me how I know this.

The locomotive on which I replaced the tires must be in Massachusetts. I took my nineteenth century stuff and the nineteenth century pike (it is on a two foot by four foot piece of plywood) up there so that I could have some trains for when I go to visit my father............except that now we can not travel.  I do have one consolidated that I "updated" for use on a pike in a later era as well as a mogul.

This is what I found:

Stewart/Virnex diesel traction tires.  These look like they would go onto the flanged pair and stay on.  You will, of course, have to stretch them. They might be a bit wide for the blind pair.

Stewart /Virnex steam traction tires.   Same comment as the diesel tires.

Kato Mikado traction tires.  These look like they would go on easily, but, you might throw them when you run the thing.  Perhaps a discreet application of Bullfrog Snot® will hold them to the drivers.  They are designed for the sixty three inch drivers of a USRA heavy 2-8-2.  The drivers on these scale out to something on the order of forty-eight inches. I did measure them once, but I forget the dimensions at which  I arrived.  These look like they would fit either the blind or flanged pair.

Con-Cor traction tires. According to the label, they fit the RR 2-8-8-2/2-8-8-0, 0-8-0, 2-8-2 and 4-8-8-4.  They look like they would fit either the flanged or blind pair and would stay on the drivers.  It has an old C-C label on it, so they are old.  I did take out one and check out the thing.  The rubber does not appear to have dry rotted, Y-E-T.

If any of these piques your interest send me a PM and we can work out the logistics.


There are some who use Bullfrog Snot®.  I have some (currently, I do not know where it is), but never have tried to use it.  There are those who swear by it, there are those who swear at it.  The most frequent complaints are that it takes some work to apply.  Then, you must trim it with an eXacto™ knife.  The other complaint is that it wears out much more quickly than traction tires.

This is an excellent runner; a pretty good puller. It creeps VERY nicely for switching.  The slow speed is excellent.  if you want to run a slow moving fifteen mile per hour coal train, this is the power with which to do it.   One thing to note as you handle it to replace the traction tires.  Be very careful of the whistle.  It is EXTREMELY DELICATE AND BREAKS VERY EASILY.  Bump it ever so slightly with a part of your hand as you work on your locomotive and the whistle will break.  Ask me how I know this.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2020, 12:50:29 AM by brokemoto »

wm3798

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2020, 08:24:22 AM »
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The rear flanged drivers have the grooves.
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Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2020, 09:00:36 AM »
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Have you thought of using Bullfrog Snot?

wm3798

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2020, 11:57:25 AM »
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Doing some experimenting...


I ran the wheels with a battery, and used a fine brush to apply a bead of gloss mod podge into the groove.
I tried running son rubber cement with bedtime, but couldn't get a consistent bead.
So I thought there'd be no harm in trying this.
It went in smoothly, filled the tire gap nicely, and should have a bit of a rubbery finish when cured.  If it cups a little, I can add another screed to it.
If it fails, I can simply pull it out of the groove with a knife point.
It's been setting for an hour or so.  I'll give it a try shortly
Lee
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Lee Weldon www.wmrywesternlines.net

davefoxx

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2020, 12:45:08 PM »
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The rear flanged drivers have the grooves.

@wm3798 ,

Put your glasses on, and look at your photo.  @brokemoto is correct; there's grooves on each of the drivers of the two rear axles i.e., that's four grooved drivers.

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wm3798

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2020, 01:02:48 PM »
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Ah yes, I see that now.  The good news is that with just the back two drivers given the Mod Podge treatment, capacity has improved considerably.
It went from struggling to handle three cars to easily gliding around with 5.
When time permits, I'll do the blind drivers as well, and see what we get.
Lee
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Lee Weldon www.wmrywesternlines.net

NDave

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2020, 10:12:06 PM »
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I have no experience with this supplier, but if you scroll down, they recommend their 6 mm tires for the N scale Athearn 2-8-0:

https://lovetrainhobbies.com/N-scale-traction-tires-locomotive-engine-replacements-steam-diesel-N-scale-traction-tires-lovetrain-hobbies-mm-N-MAIN.html

Mark5

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2020, 10:28:10 PM »
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If all else fails:

Athearn Technical Support

For warranty questions, repair questions, technical support, and product information.
Hours of Operation:

Monday - Friday: 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. PST

Phone: 310-763-7140

athearnhelp@horizonhobby.com

Customer Service is very important part of Athearn and Horizon Hobby products blah blah blah


I had good luck getting the parts I needed (not traction tires).

Mark


SkipGear

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #12 on: June 30, 2020, 10:45:41 PM »
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My go-to in this situation is good, rubbery heat shrink tubing. May take two layers depending on the groove. I try to get a piece that is slightly smaller than the actual wheel and stretch it slightly to install. Easier to get on that way than shrinking an oversize piece down to fit. Although, shrinking an oversize piece will yield a thicker tire if needed.
Tony Hines

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #13 on: June 30, 2020, 11:29:16 PM »
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If Athearn is all out then why futz around with Snot or heat shrink?

That Lovetrainhobbies site seems to have a wide range of traction tires available. 10 for $6?  Sounds like a bargain to me, and I'm sure one of the ones they sell will fit this loco like a glove.  I'm thinking of getting an assortment of those tires, just to have them for future use.
. . . 42 . . .

mmagliaro

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Re: Traction Tire Situation... Roundhouse 2-8-0
« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2020, 01:34:11 AM »
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If Athearn is all out then why futz around with Snot or heat shrink?

That Lovetrainhobbies site seems to have a wide range of traction tires available. 10 for $6?  Sounds like a bargain to me, and I'm sure one of the ones they sell will fit this loco like a glove.  I'm thinking of getting an assortment of those tires, just to have them for future use.

I have some.  I bought them a few years ago when they were first starting out, and I felt that the tires were kind of thick and a little stiff.
However, they started making narrower, and thinner, varieties (notice that for each size, like 6mm, they offer narrower and thinner profile 6mm ones as well).  So I agree, I think they are worth trying out.  The tires I have are pretty nice.  They were just a little too thick for my needs at the time.