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The rear-left traction tire on my 2019 C&O 2-10-4 popped off while running. A quick Google search suggests that I should just replace it.

Looking up parts on LionelSupport.com, I see the Bessemer and Lake Erie version of the locomotive, but only the Legacy board and RCMC are listed as parts - nothing else. Where can I find the appropriately-sized traction tires? I've seen recommendations for MTH traction tires, should I buy those instead? Would anyone recommend a place to buy them from? And should I replace all of them?

As for the cause, this train is running on an 072 loop, about 6x10, and running so that on the curves it is turning to the left. It is pulling four die-cast coal hoppers behind it (Lionel products 6-17025 and 6-11873), plus two plastic cars. Is it just a bad tire? Is the train as a whole too heavy? Thanks for reading.

Edit: the item number is 1931400. I also just remembered that Lionel usually includes a few traction tire spares, so I will go and dig the box out and look later. Still, if there's a higher-quality tire I'd be interested in knowing for future reference!

Last edited by 0-Gauge CJ
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I had the same thing happen to a new NICKEL PLATE LIONCHIEF PLUS 2.0 BERKSHIRE #765 1932030 on it's first run pulling 6 cars and a caboose.  After a little searching there was a suggestion to run / break-in a new tire by running the engine by itself, then add cars to the train.  After replacing the tire with one that came with the engine and running it a few different times for a few minutes each time, I then pulled up to three cars.  I stopped at this point as I noticed the engine had a "hitch" / bind and would lurch forward at slow speeds.  I am now deciding whether to send to to Lionel for repair or trying to replace the side rods to see if it helps.

Zeke, my LionChief 765 arrived yesterday and I experienced the same exact issue with a traction tire came off while running pulling 5 cars and a caboose. It was the tire on the left side of the engine. Took it into the shop and slipped the tire back on the wheel, but the same tire came off again while, this time, only pulling the caboose. I finally removed it and replaced it with one of the replacements supplied with the engine.  The tire that was on the engine had a very dry and stiff consistency compared to the replacement which seemed to have a slightly "sticky" (for want of a better word") consistency. So far, the problem hasn't reoccurred, but I also haven't attempted a longer consist longer than 3 or 4 cars.

Now, for the 64,000 dollar question. Does anyone know the part number for those tires? The Lionel number for the engine is 1932030. Attempted to do a part number search on the Lionel Parts site, but the only item that comes up is a replacement board for $150.00.  Would like to have a few spare traction tires on hand. The LionChief Big Boy 1404 I bought in January hasn't experienced this issue, nor has the LionChief Northern 425 I purchased a number of years ago.

Zeke, my LionChief 765 arrived yesterday and I experienced the same exact issue with a traction tire came off while running pulling 5 cars and a caboose. It was the tire on the left side of the engine. Took it into the shop and slipped the tire back on the wheel, but the same tire came off again while, this time, only pulling the caboose.

Traction tire Rule #1:  Never try to use a tire that has been thrown, it that can be made to work, I've never personally seen it!

Well, John, considering it was just unpacked and had barely one run, I figured I would give it a shot.  Just like any device I have worked on over the past 50 years that utilizes belts, or rubber idlers, usually once the belt or rubber idler is lost it's tolerance, it gets replaced. But being that this was a brand new item, why not? Took 2 minutes. Now, to get back to my original question.....does anyone know the part number of those traction tires on that locomotive?

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