Hi,
One of my trains, a lima EMU ( look at https://www.marklin-users.net/ap...ws/showreview.asp?ID=235 )has some trouble when running on grades, because it lacks traction tires, is it possible to add them ?

At first I thought of exchanging wheels, but the axles have a different diameter than Märklin's axles so it isn't posible to put Märklin wheels on.

Has anybody of you put traction tires on excisting wheels succesfully??

Regards, Winston

Hi, Winston, i used my Dremel to do it, i put the wheel with an axle on the Dremel to make it turn, then a use a broken cutting disk to make the precise space for the traciton tires on the wheel. Is a little tricky to do but it works.
The ideal solution is to get a precition tool but they are expensive, perhaps if you know some watch or gun maker/repairer you can get the ideal tool to do it.

Hello Winston,

I think that it is a job for a lathe.

Franciso is a surgeon and has a special skill(s) that makes this type of work easier for him than most of us. Get it wrong and you could:
1. have a lumpy wheel if the cut is not circular; or
2. carve off the lip of the wheel; or
3. make the groove too deep for the traction tyre.

You might even injure yourself.

A machine shop, that makes small components, should be able to help here or maybe a local steam modelling group with access to a lathe. I don't think that it would be expensive and my guess is that the operator will enjoy the challenge.

Cheers
Adrian

Hi, thanks for the replies,
So the best way of getting traction tires on a wheel is to find somebody with a lathe or either change wheels..

Francisco, you've got me worried with your "gun dealer"... Sounds a bit like "my locar car dealer"... Only joking. I bet he doesn't get that sort of request too often - probably a nice change from making/dealing with guns!

What a mix? [:0] A Marklin and Gun dealer.. Bet that business makes lots of Marklin sales. Just imagine the sales pitch - "ya'll taking way too long to look at the pretty train - now pay up or else.."

AHHHH, what a nice mix, guns, trucks and trains


[:0][:0][:0][:0][:0]WARNING-WARNING OFF TOPIC ALARM COMING SOON WARNING WARNING[}:)][}:)]

Traction tires make me so mad![:(!] They are a bear to put on, because of all that crap in between the wheels ... hoses, brake shoes, and other details that make traction tire replacement too dicey for me to handle. I have tried it and have had no success! I couldn't even get the tie-rods back on! I shipped my engine for professional repair to my dealer which is Micro Macro Mundo out of Florida. They repaired the engine and sent it back to me. However, I still have yet to run my layout that much, because my old M-track turntable conked-out and the serviceman at the assayed service center said that the thing is so old and so wore-out that it could cost more than it's worth to repair! Well, I'll have to switch over to C-track in all my sidings and block off each siding to put a complete train on! I loved that turntable! I wish things could've been different. However, my advice to you is that if you cannot put traction tires on because you have a newer, more detailed engine, the best thing to do is send to to a repair station like Micro Macro Mundo or Reynauld's Euro-Imports. That's about all I can say. They both do a good job. Well, I have to go. Good-bye and God-bless.