RUN N SCALE STEAM LOCOMOTIVES WITHOUT TRACTION TIRES

[kusojiji]

I have two Kato C62 steamers that had running issues, one due to the traction tire being soft and slimy and the other due most likely to a wonky driver wheel.

 

The first one developed a rod click and started jerking around corners, which carried into the straights for a while. I checked it closely and with a 10x magnifier, found a wad of fuzz between the wheel and tire. Started cleaning it when i noticed that the tire was mush. I snipped the tires off and this thing runs great now.

 

The second one ran with a wobble from day one. I really hated running it so she's got the lowest mileage of my 3 C62s.  On a whim, I removed the traction tire and now she runs straight and smooth.

 

Question: what's the long term ill effects going to be? Real world experienced failures please. I seen stuff like throwing a pin, bending a rod, etc. Hard for me to imagine with the size of this stuff, but if it has been experienced, would like to hear about it.

 

i have spare tires for these so I can put them back on at any time, but like I read in another thread, double - triple heading is probably easier on the loco if there are no traction tires. 

 

Also, the C62 weighs 86.3 grams and one is currently pulling 7 coaches around the room.

 

BTW, the C62 (2017 series) have the front set of wheels sprung, so all 6 wheels have constant contact.

 

Thanks.