installing traction tires steam locomotive

[Anonymous]

ok
I bought a package of HO guage traction tires by Stewart
to replace the ones that popped off of my locomotives.
So here is the run down
HO scale Rivarrossi FEF-3 UP's
these tires seem awfully small and they don't seem to stretch
I have the instructions on how to remove the running gear and get at the wheel that the tire needs to go on.
My question is will these tires stretch to fit around an 80" driver on this locomotive? The tires from the package are about 1/2" diameter. I didnt think to ask the LHS if size mattered besides it was the only kind they had in the back and the package mentioned AHM on it which I know at one time was synonymous with Rivarrossi.
Before I get into this I just want to know if I made a big oopsie.
the Stewart part number is 510
any help is appreciated.

thanks

[Anonymous]

Let's clarify.
Are you talking about the latest FEF-3 that came out about a year ago or an earlier version?

IThe latest version can be run with or without since there is an optional main driver set without
the tire included in the package. I believe you can get the correct size from Walthers.

According to a modelexpo 97-97 Rivarossi this particular model came without a traction band

[Anonymous]

Yes the latest one
and yes Ihave the driver in the box that doesnt require the traction tire.
But I want to put the tire on
so please see first quetion

[Anonymous]

This is only my opinion. I don't use traction tires. I feel they make the track dirty and spread the dirt around. I have no locos that use them and wouldn't buy one that did, I feel that strongly about it. I realize this limits the size of the train I can pull, but, so be it. I have reduced my steepest grade by lengthing it to help with this problem.

[Anonymous]

Well if the engine is slipping cause the groove in the one wheel is causing to slip then I will switch it out but as it stands now neither one of my FEF's can make it up 4 inches in 19 foot span with about 7 boxcars

[Virginian]

You have the wrong tire; you need a 512. (don't the packages have all this info on them anymore?) Virnex sells them in MR. One pack should last you 2.5 lifetimes. Take the correct size tire, put it in a bowl of hot water, wait three minutes, and slip it on the wheel. Check to make sure it is level all around, it not, trim with an Xacto and/or a file. Put a tiny bit of thin superglue on the tire/wheel joint in two places so the tire doesn't slip on the wheel or pop off.
I like traction tires. If I had a mini lathe I believe I would put them on everything. I bought four packs of Stewart tires 20 years ago, and started using the superglue trick shortly thereafter. I have since consumed ONE (1) more tire. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Go figure
I asked if the LHS had them in stock for my particular engine and they said yes.
Guess I will hold onto these and get the others

[Anonymous]

Ok I got the right tires and got them put on
not to hard but very tedious

[Anonymous]

Glad to have been of assistance!

[cacole]

If the climate in your part of Texas is anything like Arizona's, I hope you bought plenty of replacement traction tires, because they are going to dry out and come off frequently. I will never purchase another locomotive that uses traction tires because they don't last six months before they have begun to dry rot. I bought one of those Stewart traction tire tools for diesel locomotives and the tires on it all dried out and cracked before I used them.

[twhite]

I think this is a pretty common occurrance in areas with dry climates--I have the Rivarossi Allegheny, and the traction tires came off within about two months of running it in my garage layout, here in California. Instead of going through the hassle, I just decided to see how it worked without, and it works fine, hauls just as well. The BLI's I have come with optional traction tires, but so far, I've just left them off. However, your FEF sounds like a light hauler (how steep is your grade, by the way? 4 inches in 19 feet sounds less than 2%, if I'm calculating right), so it seems that you'll probably be replacing them fairly frequently if you're in a dry, hot climate. Only other alternative I could think of is to see if there's a place near the front of the boiler to add some weight.
Tom

[Anonymous]

Well yes technically my layout is in the garage but
I have had the door insulated (huge difference)
and I have run two vents from inactive parts of my house and it goes into the trainroom. I still need to blow attic insulation in and then I think it will be allright. So far on the coldest day it was around 50 degrees in there. I haven't had a hot day to see how it will be yet.
I plan on installing a ceiling fan to help circulate the air.
I dont think I will see the usual 115 degrees in that room this year.
Oh and special thanks for my wife who now parks on the drive.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

I think this is a pretty common occurrance in areas with dry climates--I have the Rivarossi Allegheny,
Tom

Me too. I now run my Allegheny wo tires on level track in Michigan.No noticeable problems

Virginian, nice reply. I will hard copy for future use on my FEF-3 new release.

[Virginian]

The Stewart tires hold up better than the originals as well, but I have had no problems where contact with any solvents, including alcohol, was avoided. And the humidity doesn't get much lower than in my house when it's minus 10 outside.