259e traction

I would check the spring tension on the center pickups first. I have several and if the center pickup tension is too high the engine drivers will be elevated creating a severe lack of traction. You can add a traction tire and if it tight enough it will stay on for a while but you might load up the motor in doing so.

The 259 and late 258 are pretty lightweight loco's. The sets it came in also usually only had 3-4 lighter cars. As Jeff said, I'd start looking at the center rollers and make sure they are not pushing up too much and causing a traction loss. I have added traction tires by finding one the is a pretty tight fit and then using some Goo to keep it in place.

Steve

You could check to be sure the drive wheels are still all the same diameter. If drive wheels are different diameters there will have to be slippage, even when no cars are being pulled.  This will reduce the pulling ability of the locomotive.  The wheels could be different diameters because of wear, the old zinc is growing, or some wheels may have been replaced. 

Add weights in the cab and steam chest. Mine has about a pound or two of weight there, and it pulls 8-9 Marx, Ives and Lionel cars no problem.

1. Thanks guys.  The wheels appear to be in good shape and even.  I will check them with a set of vernier calipers tomorrow.  I am not sure if they are zinc or not.

I have been thinking about the best way to add some weight, not sure now to get some i to the steam chest without making a mess of things. If anyone has some advice on the best way to get some weight in I would love to hear it.

Thanks much , 

John Z

The front pick-up roller appears to have an acute bend near where the roller assembly is attached to the spring strip preventing free upward movement. I would recommend carefully unbending the retention tab on that roller assembly just enough to allow you to free it from the fiber plate. Once the front roller is free of the fiber plate, carefully reshape the the spring strip to match the rear. Reinsert the roller tab in the slot in the fiber board and check/adjust for free movement and then re bend the retention tab and check for free movement yet again. I believe this will correct your traction problem. My 259's will routinely pull 5-6  8 wheel freights on level track with no further modifications.

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA, LOTS

Eric, thank you for your thoughtful response.  I did notice that the front roller felt some what stiff.  I  didn't pull anything out of the fiber board, but I did stretch the front roller out a bit thougb to try to correct that sharp bend where the roller was mounted.

Eureka! !! Just like that the spring pressure relaxed and I am now pulling the tender and 4 cars and feels like it will do considerably more.  I will still add some weight but I am much happier with it now☺.  

Congratulations, I'm only to happy to have helped!

Eric

I have a slab weight in the cab of mine, looks like it came from a steel bar.

Now working like a champ!  It still needs some weight, but here it is at today's display at the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey PA 

Enjoy !