Are tires removable ? they look press fit but I'm not sure. I would like to replace the flangeless tire and the rubber one as well. I have a small lathe so it shouldn't be a problem.
thanks in advance
Pat
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From my understanding all traction tires on locomotives are removable and replaceable, breaking them off would do fine. Just make sure they need replacing first.
They come right off, they're not press fit. If they're in good condition, there's no need to remove them.
I think he means the steel tire. I have done a Hudson and a B6, and had to saw the tire off, then saw the flange off, and finally true up the driver on an end mill with a special jig before pressing steel tires on. Sometimes it is easier to press the driver off its axle and do everything on a lathe with a mandrel.
Yes Bob,
I mean the steel tires. I could turn them down on the lathe but I would prefer to press them out. Next step would be to strip the paint on the drivers and see if it's a different metal. Maybe the wheel center is die cast and the tire is nickel plated ? I don't know. On many brass engines, tire is press fit on a brass wheel center.
Pat:
You're correct. The wheel center should be die-cast, and the tire "rim" is a stamped and plated part.
TRW
OK thanks
Now for the new tires ... I was thinking about aluminum because it will not rust. I can use cold roll too. Any suggestion ?
Why?
Yes. Cold rolled, or better, iron pipe, is best. Once you machine them, polish them to a high shine. That inhibits corrosion. Almost anything else will not have adhesion on the rails. You can use leadloy if your lathe is smaller than 9", but it is expensive.
Most Lionel I have messed with has the flanges cast as part of the wheel- usually sintered iron, but sometimes die cast. The tire is a ring of stainless. I believe the stainless is the reason they went to rubber tires.
Thank you Bob, I will use cold rolled.
