RMT Traction Tires

Jason, one issue with adding traction tires to the BEEP is you only have one wheel on each side of the tracks in contact with power.  If you run an insulated rail like we do at the club layout, that ends up being a single wheel for the outside tracks.  When you run over almost any switch, you'll lose power and park.

I actually took the traction tires off my BEEPs, so if you want axles with traction tires for your BEEP, I'll trade you 1:1 for the axle without traction tires.

I have an RMT Beep that needs traction tires to climb a section of my Halloween layout. I was wondering how does one change the tires on these units?

Same as most diesels.  You can actually remove the bottom plate and drop the wheelsets completely out, makes it very easy to add traction tires.

I actually removed the traction tires on several of mine, with only two wheels on a side, running on insulated tracks for signals is frequently a problem, they stall a lot.  Since I don't pull more than a couple cars, I just eliminated the traction tires.

Sounds easy enough. I took out the 8 screws, 4 on each side, but it seemed like something was still holding it back, so I didn't put too much pressure on the plate as I was afraid to break something. Does this sound about right or am I missing something. What about the two screws under the pick-up collectors? Hopefully, I can just leave them alone... 

Thank you so much for your reply. 

You have to take the pickups off as that screw goes all the way through to the interior.  The shell of the BEEP just lifts off, there are no screws holding it on.  You just slightly pry the sides out to clear the dimple at the fuel filler location on each side of the shell, see arrow.

Finally got around to this task. I was successful thanks to your advise! Thank you very much! The key was taking off the shell and the circuit board,and seeing the three screws that hold the pickups and bottom plate. Happy New Year!

Does anyone know where to get replacement traction tires for a RMT Beep? I just got a used one and it looks like the tire is so old and hard that the engine just spins it’s wheels. . .

MTH DE-0000018 Diesel Tires work fine and are available from MTH Parts & Sales.

Thanks for the tip. I rand the Beep again and it actually looks like the current traction tire is too small and that’s why it’s skidding. To get it to move I need to weight down the engine over the wheel with the traction tire.

Truthfully, on the two BEEP's that I converted to command, I removed the traction tire wheel for a plain wheel and added about 7 ounces of weight.  They can pull a dozen cars on a level track and are more reliable without an insulating tire.

No, they won't pull them up the 2.5% grade on the mainline, it'll do six or seven up the grade.

Good idea! What did you end up using as a weight and how did you install it?

A good place to stick the weights is the cavity in the chassis between the sideframes, it's unused space.  Here's one with around 6OZ of lead, I cut these pieces from old brass locomotive weights.  These were hot-glued in, I put a base of glue in there and just pressed the weight in.

I've also used 1oz automotive tire weights in other BEEP's, both in this cavity and inside the locomotive.  If you can increase the weight by 7-8 ounces, it makes a huge difference in traction.  Obviously, this applies to any motorized unit, not just the BEEP.

I got some tire weights and added them to the side with the traction tire. It helps but it appears that only three wheels have contact with the rails at any time. When I push down on the Beep it rocks back and forth. Either the front right wheel or the back left(traction tire wheel) is touching a rail. I assume this is because the traction tire is too small or possibly the traction tire is on the wrong wheel? I hope the whole frame isn’t off but I bought it used so there is a risk.

I'd lose the traction tire, the rig is more reliable with all the wheels in contact with the rails.