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Post by domi on Aug 30, 2020 14:37:22 GMT -5
Funny epilogue today. As I was performing deep cleaning to my usually capricious ES44AC, removing trucks, cleaning all copper contacts and wheels with a rubbing alcohol soaked brush, I noticed that traction tires apparently didn't appreciate rubbing alcohol and broke. So now my locomotive is traction-tire free. Even with a couple grooved wheels, my loco performs according to my tastes. No derailments on turnouts. I wonder whether I swap axles with grooved wheels for fully steel wheels in the future, but I sure won't put back axles with tire-equipped wheels. Next units to receive this treatment (involontary for my ES44, volontary for all next locomotives), my GP38-2s.. Dom
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Post by BAZman on Aug 31, 2020 12:46:52 GMT -5
And, as a reminder-reminder . . . . NEVER, that's N-E-V-E-R use the märklin/minitrix (or any other brash-brush) wheel cleaner! Not for the alcohol issue as Dom had but for the FRICTION it puts on those very thin NOT REPLACEABLE traction tires.
Cleaning the wheels with 70% isopropyl alcohol (should) still is an OK technique, unless you are doing this say once a week. That may be too much absorption into the tire material and could cause embrittlement or gummying.
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Post by dtilocojoe on Aug 31, 2020 18:01:49 GMT -5
I am a new member to the forum,but not to model railroading. I watched the evolution of HO locomotives mostly having traction tires. Then they were eliminated by the manufacturers over time. The the whole process was repeated in N. Banging on the layout to "un-stall",your engine,a common occurrence. Eventually Atlas and Kato decided smooth running was more important that a review in Model Railroader touting a locomotive could pull 30 cars. The biggest difference is that the AZL engines have much finer engineering,that their larger scale counterparts did 30-50 years ago.They are jewels,at a reasonable price. However I have no use for traction tires on any powered mechanism. I have scratch built engines and railcars in all the above mentioned scales. The AZL GP38 and new RSD engines measure out at 4.80 MM,at the widest part if the tread. (Not flange)I have yet to disassemble one of the new units,but I will,as I have a project in mind using the RSD trucks. I will report in when I have a tooth count on the drive gears. The first thing I did with the Rhokuhan shorty mechanism,was to swap out the traction tire for a conducting one. Instant improved slow speed ability. And yes,it will only pull half as much. It depends on what you are going to use it for. Joe
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Post by zscalehobo on Sept 1, 2020 2:59:27 GMT -5
And, as a reminder-reminder . . . . NEVER, that's N-E-V-E-R use the märklin/minitrix (or any other brash-brush) wheel cleaner! Not for the alcohol issue as Dom had but for the FRICTION it puts on those very thin NOT REPLACEABLE traction tires. Cleaning the wheels with 70% isopropyl alcohol (should) still is an OK technique, unless you are doing this say once a week. That may be too much absorption into the tire material and could cause embrittlement or gummying. Brass? Yes, agreed ... It's why I have posted right on the 66623 page "not recommended for locomotives with traction tires" ... zscalehobo.com/marklin/66623.htmlAnd I don't recommend alcohol on traction tires. Maybe a Tsugawa 12508 wheel cleaner instead to knock out any gunk on the tire.
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