Rapido FL9 traction?

[dougnelson]

A single FL9 has a hard time pulling more than a few cars. Anyone else experiencing that?

What are the solutions?  Add traction tires?  Can that be done on regular wheels, or does it needed an indentation for the traction tires?

Bullfrog snot?  Anyone with experience using that?

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

[Mike C]

  Just clean the wheels with IPA and cut a sliver of Scotch double sided tape to wrap the wheel tread . Worked for a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 .....Mike

[spookshow]

Sounds like there's something wrong with it. The one I tested pulled fifteen 85' Kato passenger cars without breaking a sweat.

-Mark

[bobdobbs]

You might want to check the MU hoses, they can drag on the track.

[dougnelson]

UPDATE:  My problem was not actually the locomotive - it was the lead sled FL9 dummy I created.  I removed gears from the trucks, also removed the wipers, but it is still a bear to pull.  I removed the dummy from the consist and each of my single FL9s can pull 8 Rapido cars.  The dummy was a failed experiment.  Fortunately, MBK still has powered FL9s for $80 (analog).  Anyone need a Metro North FL9 shell?

[peteski]

So you took a complete (powered) FL9 and made it into a dummy?!  I'm curious as to what the reasoning was for doing that.

[dougnelson]

So you took a complete (powered) FL9 and made it into a dummy?!  I'm curious as to what the reasoning was for doing that.

No, l got a basket case motorless chassis from Rapido.

[peteski]

No, l got a basket case motorless chassis from Rapido.

Oh, ok. What if you milled out some of the metal from the chassis?  That would make it lighter.  But I guess those are not low-friction trucks like Atlas and Kato use?

[thomasjmdavis]

No, l got a basket case motorless chassis from Rapido.

I need to write to them about whether they have any basket case passenger cars.

[spookshow]

So you took a complete (powered) FL9 and made it into a dummy?!  I'm curious as to what the reasoning was for doing that.

The trucks have thick metal wipers with cutouts that straddle the axles. For a dummy, I would imagine they could be removed in order to cut down on friction.



-Mark

Edit - oops, nevermind. I see you already did that.

[dougnelson]

Oh, ok. What if you milled out some of the metal from the chassis?  That would make it lighter.  But I guess those are not low-friction trucks like Atlas and Kato use?

Removing metal would be the next step, but the split frame holds the trucks in place, so cutting out the center section would involve figuring how to secure the end sections of the frame to hold the trucks.  I guess the frames could also be left full length, but drilled out to remove material. 

Ultimately, 2 powered locos are probably a better solution.

[craigolio1]

I need to write to them about whether they have any basket case passenger cars.

Maybe 5 or 6 years ago Rapido was offering misfit N scale passenger cars for $25. I got a few Daynighters with paint mistakes that were otherwise perfect. I contacted them again a couple of years ago to inquire if they had any more and after some time received a response that they had various misfits missing parts and such but they never got back to me about a way to procure them.

I have a feeling the company was small enough when they offered the original misfits that it was worth their time to gather and sell off the mistakes, (or maybe they just had a ton of them)?

Try contacting them and asking but I have a feeling they have too much going on these days for it to be worth the time for them.

Craig.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That's too bad. There is nothing more satisfying than turning something that would end up in the trash into a treasure.

[craigolio1]

That's too bad. There is nothing more satisfying than turning something that would end up in the trash into a treasure.

Indeed. And I hate stripping perfectly good models painted in Canadian schemes. I used a few of the misfits as core kits for Laser Horizon and USP sides, other got repainted.

It’s a great way to bulk up consists without paying top dollar too.

[Point353]

Ultimately, 2 powered locos are probably a better solution.

Or, you could run an A-A-A lash up: