Kato 2011 C55 parts

[Mike Madonna]

Good evening all,

Looking for a set of traction tires for the above loco or an equivalent that is known to work.
Could also go the "Bullfrog Snot" route, but would rather go with the TTs if at all possible.
I looked at the Kato Japanese site, they do not list the TTs anywhere on their site (from what
could see).
Thanks in advance!

[peteski]

https://lovetrainhobbies.com/N-scale-traction-tires-locomotive-engine-replacements-steam-diesel-N-scale-traction-tires-lovetrain-hobbies-mm-N-MAIN.html
IIRC, Max found this source.

[C62-2]

They do have them, but they only show up with the phrase トラクションタイヤ (just タイヤ doesn't work)



https://www.e-katomodels2.com/shop/goods/search.aspx?search=x&keyword=%83g%83%89%83N%83V%83%87%83%93%83%5E%83C%83%84

[peteski]

I wonder if Hobby Search ( https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/rail/ ) carries them? They stock lots of spare parts.

[C62-2]

Hobbysearch only has two sizes of n scale tires in stock:

https://www.1999.co.jp/search?typ1_c=101&cat=&state=&sortid=0&searchkey=トラクションタイヤ&sold=1&spage=1&Scale=Nゲージ

(sorry - I can't see the English-language pages from inside Japan)

[peteski]

Thanks! English links:
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10147520
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10097696

[mmagliaro]

The C55 has 74" drivers, which works out to 11.74 mm
Plaza Japan lists  Z02-0503   on eBay, 9mm traction tires  (You'll find them if you just search for      kato traction tire diameter)

Allowing for a tire thickness of .010", that would be .020" total diameter increase, or about 0.5mm which would imply
the traction tire groove is about 11.2mm in diamater.  So, is a 9mm tire the right one?  Seems reasonable.  It needs to
be somewhat smaller to stretch over the wheel and stay put.

Anyway, that's a source if Z02-0503 is the correct part for the C55.

Bachmann shows an 8mm tire for their K4, which I would think is similar.  Even if you get them from LoveTrainHobbies, you'll need to
have some idea of the diameter, thickness, and width of tire you need. 

[Mike Madonna]

Gents,
Thanks for the feedback, all good.
I failed to mention that only ONE TT is missing. I could try to measure the one that remains. Of course, I'd have to
remove it from the driver....

[mmagliaro]

Gents,
Thanks for the feedback, all good.
I failed to mention that only ONE TT is missing. I could try to measure the one that remains. Of course, I'd have to
remove it from the driver....

That might help somewhat, but it is old and will be stretched out.  It will probably come off an 11.5mm driver and measure 10mm across, but it was probably smaller than that when it was new.  I think I'd buy a couple of different sizes from LoveTrainHobbies, see which one fits the best, and then replace them both with those.