Does it hurt to run one of these locos without a traction tire. I got my 8703 used and did not realize it needed a tire. It runs just fine and pulls several cars, mostly 40's & 50's postwar stuff, on my little layout just fine even through O-27 curves. I use old school Marx all metal switches and the loco runs great through them, no e-unit shifting into reverse or anything like that.The only issue I have with the little lokie is the smoke unit. It works, but nowhere near as proficiently as the ones do in my Marx 666 and 1666. LOL
Hope you get you locomotive's issues sorted out Mr. Kazy way before you turn 60!