The other day I noticed that 119 was limping along the track. It looked like the locomotive would hit a pothole and bump up and down. I took it off the track and found that the track tyres, which are fitted to the front drivers, had perished and had snapped. The remnants of the tyre were just sitting the groove on the driving wheel. Each time the gap in the traction tyre passed over the rail, the locomotive would dip.
This was not a surprise as I had noted that the tyres had been degrading for some time. Before Christmas, I replaced the tyres on the Jupiter after observing a similar failure. I'm not sure what caused the degradation. I used to have several of the old design Bachmann 4-4-0's which also had traction tyres and never had any problems with them.
I first noticed the degradation after I had been using CRC contact cleaner to clean the tracks about two years ago. I stopped using the contact cleaner and the degradation continued. So perhaps it was just the nature of the tyre used by Bachmann for the new tooling model, in combination with some other factors of my layout environment.
Anyhow, the fix was pretty easy. I found some traction tyres online from a New Zealand based hobby shop for Marklin models, but they fit the Bachmann locomotives fine. I used their 10.4mm diameter tyres, which do stretch for a nice fit on the Bachmann locomotive.
I laid the locomotive on its side and used a small set of pliers to gently undo the small bolt holding on the connecting rods to the front driver. I swung the connecting rods out the way and removed the old tyre. Then is was a case of slipping the new tyre on. I found it easiest to slip it over the top of the driver, then using a pair of tweezers, applied tension to seat the tyre in the groove. Then it was a case of assembling the connecting rods and turning the locomotive over and doing the other side.
Now 119 runs smoothly again. It will be interesting to see if the Marklin tyres have a better, worse or similar lifespan.
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| The remnants of the old tyre can be seen curling around the edge of the front driver. (The drawing pin just propped the locomotive up for the camera). |
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| I used tweezers to help pull the tyre onto the driver. |
