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Author Topic: Traction tires - adding Dditional  (Read 412 times)

mtfrizzell

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Traction tires - adding Dditional
« on: April 15, 2017, 10:12:23 pm »
Given that my Berkshire engine #1225 ( O Gauge Polar Express) slips badly on grades that my Pennsylvania engine #421 can handle relatively easily. Can I simply add additional tractions tires on the two front drive wheels? It already has traction tires on the rear drive wheels.


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djacobsen

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Re: Traction tires - adding Dditional
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2017, 08:56:56 am »
mtfrizzell
I don't know if you would be able to add traction tires without replacing the two front drive wheels with wheels grooved for traction tires.
Some folks use a product called Bull Frog Snot applied to the wheels instead of a traction tire.
I have used bathroom silicon sealant applied to a wheel as a traction tire.

Before doing any of the above,  I suggest that you try adding weight to your locomotive.
I have a couple locomotives that "should" be good pullers but are not because they are not heavy enough to have good traction.
I use fishing weights, set on the locomotive pulling the number of cars that I want to see it pull, to measure how much weight I need. 
Then using sheet lead I find places to spread the weight out inside the shell, out of view.

Can't find sheet lead? make your own using a hammer and anything that can be used as an anvil, to pound flat fishing weights...


Happy Rails!
Dave
Railroad Crossings: Mother Natures way of thinning the gene pool.

 

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