Second time concerning DM&IR Yellowstone traction tire problem- may have found problem

It's possible the wheel is hitting that spot causing the traction tire to come off. What curves are you running it on? Anything less than 072?

I have a Premier Yellowstone and run it on 072. The drivers don't come anywhere near hitting that pipe. 

Sure looks like that’s the smoking gun for that particular driver.....I’d just try and see if you could just push & tweak that pipe out of the way, .....no grinding required. As I recall, you were spitting off all 4,....have you found out why the other 3 went AWOL?...

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Sure looks like that’s the smoking gun for that particular driver.....I’d just try and see if you could just push & tweak that pipe out of the way, .....no grinding required. As I recall, you were spitting off all 4,....have you found out why the other 3 went AWOL?...

Pat

The OP shouldn't have to move that pipe. If the driver is hitting that pipe there is some other major issue. On 072 or larger curves the driver shouldn't come anywhere near it.

Mine has some minor rubbing on that pipe, but looks to be contact with the flange of the wheel and no where close to the tire.

Are you replacing these with new traction tires? Any time I tried to remount a MTH traction tire that has been used a for while, it seems to come right off again, assuming the rubber has broken down.  I only put new tires on.

@Hump Yard Mike posted:

Mine has some minor rubbing on that pipe, but looks to be contact with the flange of the wheel and no where close to the tire.

Are you replacing these with new traction tires? Any time I tried to remount a MTH traction tire that has been used a for while, it seems to come right off again, assuming the rubber has broken down.  I only put new tires on.

Yes, I put all new tires on the engine. As far as the  wheel issue, the flange of the wheel looks to be cutting into the pipe, but there is enough play that I can see where the tire could/can rub and so I am thinking it is peeling off. I will have to next look at my other Yellowstones and see if there are similar marks. Those engines seem to be keeping their tires on.

@harmonyards posted:

Sure looks like that’s the smoking gun for that particular driver.....I’d just try and see if you could just push & tweak that pipe out of the way, .....no grinding required. As I recall, you were spitting off all 4,....have you found out why the other 3 went AWOL?...

Pat

Yes, I replaced all four of the tires. So far the others have stayed on. I will keep my fingers crossed tomorrow when I run the engine some more. I( did pull the majority of the screws for mounting the pipe, and then tried to bend, but I don't think I accomplished anything.  I will probably try to bend them a little more.

@Lou1985 posted:

The OP shouldn't have to move that pipe. If the driver is hitting that pipe there is some other major issue. On 072 or larger curves the driver shouldn't come anywhere near it.

I'm running on 72; 80, 89 & 96, unless one of my custom curves is a little sharp. We shall see what the other Yellowstones look like as they seem to be behaving.

I know I have a slight problem backing it's tender thru some of the switches.

It looks to me that the brake hangers in front of that wheel and the one behind are much closer than anything else. That might be your problem.

@Lou1985 posted:

The OP shouldn't have to move that pipe. If the driver is hitting that pipe there is some other major issue. On 072 or larger curves the driver shouldn't come anywhere near it.

Your Yellowstone is the last incarnation made,....both the OP’s & Mike’s are of earlier vintage ( note the shiny driver tire) ......there might have been a little known issue on the earlier model that may have been corrected or altered on your model Lou, ......we already know for fact some goodies were added or altered on your particular model,....

Pat

@Big Jim posted:

It looks to me that the brake hangers in front of that wheel and the one behind are much closer than anything else. That might be your problem.

You must be talking about the other engine in a reply. MY engine in the first picture shows the brake hangers removed for easier replacement of the tires.

@harmonyards posted:

Your Yellowstone is the last incarnation made,....both the OP’s & Mike’s are of earlier vintage ( note the shiny driver tire) ......there might have been a little known issue on the earlier model that may have been corrected or altered on your model Lou, ......we already know for fact some goodies were added or altered on your particular model,....

Pat

That pipe detailing is the same part on all models, so it shouldn't be an issue. There has to be something causing it to hit that area. I'd look at the front weight spring and the centering shaft and spring to make sure it's in spec. It seems like an issue caused by that or where the front drivers joins the fixed part of the chassis. This setup is sensitive to uneven track work, so that could play a part as well. The pipe isn't the cause here, it's a symptom of some other issue 😉.

This still doesn't explain the other 3 tires coming off.

@Lou1985 posted:

That pipe detailing is the same part on all models, so it shouldn't be an issue. There has to be something causing it to hit that area. I'd look at the front weight spring and the centering shaft and spring to make sure it's in spec. It seems like an issue caused by that or where the front drivers joins the fixed part of the chassis. This setup is sensitive to uneven track work, so that could play a part as well. The pipe isn't the cause here, it's a symptom of some other issue 😉.

This still doesn't explain the other 3 tires coming off.

Sounds like your suggestions about being in spec is something that a really good tech would need to look at, most likely someone at MTH (I hope). It is true why did the other tires peel off.

Thanks for your inputs.

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

You must be talking about the other engine in a reply. MY engine in the first picture shows the brake hangers removed for easier replacement of the tires.

I am speaking of this one and if yours is like this one, those brake shoes/hanger looks pretty daggone close.

@Big Jim posted:

I am speaking of this one and if yours is like this one, those brake shoes/hanger looks pretty daggone close.

Yes, you are right, the brake shoes and hangers are quite close, but they are not rubbing, but I will check this out again today. Thanks for your comments too.

What size traction tire did you use for your replacement. What are you cleaning your track with. Some cleaners will cause the tires to stretch. MTH recommends cleaning track with denatured alcohol. The tire in your picture looks a little large on the wheel.

MTH tire chart calls for a DE-0000027. Maybe try to step down a size or two.

Pat mentioned that you were throwing all 4 tires. If you posted about this on another thread it would have helped if you continued on that thread.

Forest.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I was carefully looking at the front "engine" for problems, and I think I found one, which might be the problem. I noticed that the rear set of drivers, which has the traction tires, is off the rail a small distance! When I push down on that set of drivers, it makes contact with the rail.  No idea what is happening, is it indeed the spring not pushing down correctly?? I believe I have a printed sheet showing all the parts for the early Yellowstone #227, I will see if I can catch how the front engine might be connected. Any other help??

I'll check, but I think the store provided me with the correct tire. As for my post. The original was never replied to, thus I did an update. Thanks.

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I was carefully looking at the front "engine" for problems, and I think I found one, which might be the problem. I noticed that the rear set of drivers, which has the traction tires, is off the rail a small distance! When I push down on that set of drivers, it makes contact with the rail.  No idea what is happening, is it indeed the spring not pushing down correctly?? I believe I have a printed sheet showing all the parts for the early Yellowstone #227, I will see if I can catch how the front engine might be connected. Any other help??

Sounds like there is an issue with the spring that applies pressure to the front set of drivers or something is catching where the front set of drivers is connected to the frame. Should be easy to sort out once the boiler shell is removed.