Standardized Traction Tires

I don’t know the answer to your question, but it gave me an idea:  the universal traction tire.  It would be stretchy  ( like a rubber band)  and would fit ALL steamers.   Would make maintenance so much easier.  Maybe  manufacturers can pick up on this. JohnA

If they are that stretchy, I would think they would just pull off the wheel when the traction was actually needed!

@Trainlover160 posted:

After running Diesels and Steam Engines, I have changed or sided back Traction Tires on all manufacturers locos. It appears that most if not all diesels use the same size.

Could this be true slso for Steam Engines? If so, what part number would you store for these Engines that are serviced?

Thanks,

Joe Gozzo

The best reference to date is the latest MTH Traction Tire Listing.  While not every diesel uses a standard tire, the vast majority of them do, I use DE-0000018 tires on most diesels.

Steam engines certainly do not use the same traction tires, the driver sizes are way too widely varied.

MTH should have sold a assortment pack for people with alot of Locomotives.

i cannot 3D print traction tires at a reasonable price. Too many.

So I thought what IF I made a flat 3D strip from flexible resin. The strip could be wrapped around a wheel then overlapped and using an Xacto blade cut thru the overlap removing the extra pieces.

Then spreading some flexible resin in liquid state at the cut ends  use a laser pen to seal the strip end with the liquid resin.

@Gene H posted:

MTH should have sold a assortment pack for people with alot of Locomotives.

They do, just order 25 of each size.

Actually, they used to offer a Maintenance kit with a bunch of common parts, including the traction tires.

MTH 60-1365 Parts Maintenance Kit

I have it, it's a bit better stocked than it came originally.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

They do, just order 25 of each size.

Actually, they used to offer a Maintenance kit with a bunch of common parts, including the traction tires.

MTH 60-1365 Parts Maintenance Kit

I remember the maintenance kits, but traction tires often need replaced, I think an assortment pack would have been a good seller. I have a plastic container full of tires and probably enough to last me for what's left of my life lol.

Since wheels are different diameters, I don't see how one tire could be universal.

I 3D printed my own out of TPU for my 3rd Rail High Iron K4. 3rd Rail uses rather unique dimensions and some tires are just not available anymore so I decided to roll my own after becoming aware of TPU filament:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...raction-tires?page=1

The set I printed up for my K4 are still in service. I still haven't tried them in a snowstorm (that thread gets real goofy toward the end if you make it that far, sorry).

The 3rd Rail stuff is a good candidate for custom tires, they do use some odd sizes.  The Weaver and Williams brass has some odd widths as well.

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

I 3D printed my own out of TPU for my 3rd Rail High Iron K4. 3rd Rail uses rather unique dimensions and some tires are just not available anymore so I decided to roll my own after becoming aware of TPU filament:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...raction-tires?page=1

The set I printed up for my K4 are still in service. I still haven't tried them in a snowstorm (that thread gets real goofy toward the end if you make it that far, sorry).

Can you print up some Weaver tires Norm?

Maybe, do you have the dimensions?  I would need the driver diameter, the inner diameter (depth of the tire groove), and the width of the groove. I have to load my spool of TPU back up soon anyway.

Real steam locomotives had a variety of wheel sizes from as small as 48 inches all the up to 84 and evne more.    so if you have models of real engines, there probably is not a common size.

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

Maybe, do you have the dimensions?  I would need the driver diameter, the inner diameter (depth of the tire groove), and the width of the groove. I have to load my spool of TPU back up soon anyway.

Thanks. I'll get out the calipers.