Best Adhesive to Attach Traction Tires

[PDizzel]

A factory-installed traction tire has come off on one of my N-scale steam locomotives. What is the best adhesive to glue it to the driver again?  I have the tire back on the driver but want to keep it from coming off again.  

Many thanks for any recommendations!

Paul

[sandjam]

Hi Paul,

The tire has been stretched to be thrown off. I have read of folks using everything from paint to Tacky glue to hold the tire back on. Messy solutions for a Band-Aid fix.

I don’t ever try to reuse stretched tires, it’s futile. I replace them with new ones.

What causes tires to be thrown off?

Overloading a locomotive with enough cars to make a wheel spin in the traction tire.

Pushing the locomotive along the railhead. This stretches the tire and it will be thrown. Be careful railing the locomotive.

The tighter radius you use, the more a wheel will slip (it has to), guess what happens when the rubber doesn’t slip?

Also, don’t use anything petroleum based to clean your track or tires. Petroleum based products and rubber tires don’t play well together. The oil penetrates the rubber. Rail Zip, clipper oils, transmission fluid, etc., all will in time, destroy rubber traction tires. This includes the oil residue left behind by products like naphtha and mineral spirits. If they don’t soften them and make them prone to slip, they will eventually dry them out and cause them to crack and break and fall apart.

By avoiding these products, I have traction tires that are decades old and still in good shape.

If you can’t get the tires from the manufacturer, then look here.

 The Lovetrain Hobby Works - Hobby Creations and Innovations (lovetrainhobbies.com)

Not many n scalers here, more on n scale specific forums and groups.

Best of luck from another n scaler

 

[SeeYou190]

PDizzel

What is the best adhesive to glue it to the driver again?

"Bullfrog Snot" is marketed as a liquid traction tire, but it also works very well as an adhesive for traction tires.

Note: My personal experience with this product (and N scale) is very old. I don't know if anything has changed since I last used it.

-Kevin

[mbinsewi]

I think when the traction tires come off, it's a sign they are stretched, and need to be replaced with new ones.

Mike.

[selector]

The compound is a polymer that, like so many others, degrades over time. They develop surface cracks from contaminants and from oxygen and ozone. Those cracks deepen until there's a complete severing, often under load. I have never had to do this because I use my locomotives so-equipped so very little, but you can order them in bags for a few dollars.  Just keep the unused ones well sealed and tucked away.  

[PDizzel]

Many thanks, Sandjam, for the very helpful suggestions!  I really appreciate it.

 

paul

[PDizzel]

Thank you all for the helpful advice and solutions!

Paul