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.

[Welshbloke]

The main snags are likely to be that the de-tyred wheels are now very slightly smaller (some models do three legged donkey impressions if they lose a tyre on one side) and that there is a possibility of the edge of the tyre slot catching on the rail (possibility of it derailing). I have seen the former problem a few times, if I can't get proper replacement tyres easily I find a slice of heatshrink sleeve will level things out. It can be difficult cutting it squarely, but it's cheap enough that a few attempts won't cost you unduly.

 

Kato tend to leave the tyres off power units intended to run with another power car. I can see the risk of stress on motors and tyres or derailments if the two aren't perfectly speed matched.

[kusojiji]

I've been running that C62 without the traction tires and it seems to be fine. The 3 sets of driving wheels are sprung so they all make contact. I just hope that the slot doesn't wear out prematurely. The wheel that had the traction tire is wonky and the traction tire exacerbated it. I was going to send it back to Kato for repair, but that seems to be a hassle. 

 

Yeah agree that traction tire locos cannot be consisted if not exactly the same speed. I was doing that with my big boy and 844 with the 844 pulling the pilot truck of the big boy off the rails all the time.

 

THanks!