Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2018 21:42:44 GMT -5
Below is my strategy, which has worked time and time again, to getting TYCO PowerTorques to perform a ton better, without paying a ton! Enjoy -
Now, we all know that HO-Scale traction tires by brand name (such as Calumet) are rather expensive for the amount provided. And, with the fact that Tyco's original traction tires have undoubtedly dry-rotted after 30-40 years, traction tires are essential to getting a Tyco PowerTorque loco to perform well, that is, unless you prefer to do motor transfers/chassis swap-outs, etc. But, if you want to keep Tyco, "Tyco," then traction tires are the way to go.
First of foremost, the truck cover on the powered truck nearest to the gears must be pried off - this usually results in broken tabs, so the truck cover will need to be reattached with an adhesive of some kind (I use hot glue, and it works quite well..most of the time.) On VERY RARE occasions the truck cover actually pops off leaving the tabs intact, allowing a seamless re-installation.
After the truck cover is off, remove the old traction tires on the unit (if they are even still present) and check to make sure that the drive wheels are clean of debris. Then...apply Goody's Hairbands.
A quick trip to your local WalMart and down the proper aisle will lead you to a combo pack with all-clear rubber hairbands in 3 different sizes, for about $2-5. The SMALLEST size is the perfect one, and in that one compartment, you get way more than what a small pack of brand-name traction tires could provide. Then, gently stretch the hairband traction tire over the drive wheels and you are good to go (Goody's are rather flexible, so your hands should be perfect in installation, but if needs be, I recommend using an exacto knife to carefully stretch them on.)
Put the truck cover back on, and then run the locomotive for a bit to make sure that the traction tires have no kinks in them and are properly installed on the drive wheels (NOTE, you may want to test first before adding the truck cover, as sometimes these traction tires can pop off, and then new ones will need to be added.)
The clear, smallest Goody's Traction Tires work best, but the black smallest Goody's also work fairly well, except they fit a bit looser on the wheels, thus causing many of them to fly off lickety-split. But, if you can get a good bunch of black Goody's, then they will last quite a bit longer than the clear ones.
I truly hope this information helps those interested in preserving their Tyco engine as it was produced, as opposed to performing intense engineering work.
The idea of first using Goody's was a suggestion from Chops, but I have perfected it into a helpful strategy to make any PowerTorque Tyco locomotive run a ton better, without costing you a ton of work or money!
Now, we all know that HO-Scale traction tires by brand name (such as Calumet) are rather expensive for the amount provided. And, with the fact that Tyco's original traction tires have undoubtedly dry-rotted after 30-40 years, traction tires are essential to getting a Tyco PowerTorque loco to perform well, that is, unless you prefer to do motor transfers/chassis swap-outs, etc. But, if you want to keep Tyco, "Tyco," then traction tires are the way to go.
First of foremost, the truck cover on the powered truck nearest to the gears must be pried off - this usually results in broken tabs, so the truck cover will need to be reattached with an adhesive of some kind (I use hot glue, and it works quite well..most of the time.) On VERY RARE occasions the truck cover actually pops off leaving the tabs intact, allowing a seamless re-installation.
After the truck cover is off, remove the old traction tires on the unit (if they are even still present) and check to make sure that the drive wheels are clean of debris. Then...apply Goody's Hairbands.
A quick trip to your local WalMart and down the proper aisle will lead you to a combo pack with all-clear rubber hairbands in 3 different sizes, for about $2-5. The SMALLEST size is the perfect one, and in that one compartment, you get way more than what a small pack of brand-name traction tires could provide. Then, gently stretch the hairband traction tire over the drive wheels and you are good to go (Goody's are rather flexible, so your hands should be perfect in installation, but if needs be, I recommend using an exacto knife to carefully stretch them on.)
Put the truck cover back on, and then run the locomotive for a bit to make sure that the traction tires have no kinks in them and are properly installed on the drive wheels (NOTE, you may want to test first before adding the truck cover, as sometimes these traction tires can pop off, and then new ones will need to be added.)
The clear, smallest Goody's Traction Tires work best, but the black smallest Goody's also work fairly well, except they fit a bit looser on the wheels, thus causing many of them to fly off lickety-split. But, if you can get a good bunch of black Goody's, then they will last quite a bit longer than the clear ones.
I truly hope this information helps those interested in preserving their Tyco engine as it was produced, as opposed to performing intense engineering work.
The idea of first using Goody's was a suggestion from Chops, but I have perfected it into a helpful strategy to make any PowerTorque Tyco locomotive run a ton better, without costing you a ton of work or money!
