ATHEARN'S IRON WHEELS are not producing the 'gum', merely picking it up.
(1) Your repeated problem suggests an oil based product is getting on your track - either as a cleaner or from axle journals. There has been previous posts on this. In any case, eliminate the cause.
(2) One of the things you definitely can do to improve Athearn's running is to replace their iron wheels with either JayBee or NWSL half-axles which into contact with the track.
JayBee comes pre-packaged for 8 wheeled engines (GP's) and NWSL for 12 wheeled (SD's), so I use accordingly. I prefer the 'weathered' wheels as I have never seen a diesel engine with shiny wheels, plus the thin 'weathered' plating soon wears off leaving the wheels with shiny treads - like the prototype.
Caveat: get the
same size wheels otherwise the couplers will be at the wrong height and pilots and snow plows may scrape the track.
(3) DC users will find better low speed operation plus DCC users will find superior signal transfer with the new wheels.
(4) Go back and correct (1) (probably an oil-based 'cleaning substance' used on your track). ALCOHOL (and abrasive BRIGHT BOYS) work best where you can reach. $100 cleaning cars for areas you cannot.
Don Gibson
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