Kato Mikado traction

[mike_lawyer]

I have a Kato Mikado with a GHQ PRR L-1 conversion.  My layout has a minimum radius of 17 inches.  Running a train of 20 MT cars, and it seems like there is slippage on the rails.  It seems like the traction tire might not be making solid and continuous contact with the rails.

I know this loco with the GHQ shell should pull like crazy.  Does anyone have any ideas on possible solutions to maximize traction tire pulling?

[ns737]

have you tried putting a traction tire set on the second driver point.

[mmagliaro]

If you think that rear driver isn't quite sitting down on the rails, I would try removing the gear plate, pulling that 4th
driver set out, and adding a little chip of masking tape at the bottom of the bearing slot so the driver will be slightly forced
downward a bit more when the engine is on the rails.  Also check the drawbar.  Sometimes a Mikado drawbar is damaged
and slightly bent so it puts upward pressure on the rear end of the engine.

If you do decide to put another traction tire driver in there, you have to do it on axle #2 (2nd from the front), because that is
the other one that has no rods pinned to it.  You can lift it out like #4 and put a traction tire driver in there in place of it.
Be warned, however, that essentially makes the engine roll on 4 rubber feet, so there will be minimal electrical pickup
from the engine after that and you'll be relying on the tender.  Early on, I experimented with doing that on my kitbashed
PRR 2-10-0 (because the pewter boiler and added weight pulling 90 cars was apparently not enough for me... ha ha !)
I eventually decided against it because of pickup and tracking problems.  The engine just doesn't roll as freely with all those rubber wheels on there.

You really shouldn't need it.  So I'd look elsewhere for the problem.

[ns737]

on the first gen. mikado's there is very little pick up from the engine. most all pick up is the tender. kato fixed the problem on the second run with better driver pick up. I have all three gens.

[mmagliaro]

on the first gen. mikado's there is very little pick up from the engine. most all pick up is the tender. kato fixed the problem on the second run with better driver pick up. I have all three gens.

Yes and no.  I've had some 1st gen with dead drivers and some where they work.   I have never had one where all the drivers are dead.  Even on the 1st gen, some of them always had pickup for me.  The OP could check with clip leads to see how many of the drivers are "live" before deciding to give up whatever pickup he has by adding the 2nd tire.   I still think putting a second traction tire into this engine is barking up the wrong tree.  The engine should pull plenty with just one and that pewter boiler. 

[Lemosteam]

If you think that rear driver isn't quite sitting down on the rails, I would try removing the gear plate, pulling that 4th
driver set out, and adding a little chip of masking tape at the bottom of the bearing slot so the driver will be slightly forced
downward a bit more when the engine is on the rails.  Also check the drawbar.  Sometimes a Mikado drawbar is damaged
and slightly bent so it puts upward pressure on the rear end of the engine.

If you do decide to put another traction tire driver in there, you have to do it on axle #2 (2nd from the front), because that is
the other one that has no rods pinned to it.  You can lift it out like #4 and put a traction tire driver in there in place of it.
Be warned, however, that essentially makes the engine roll on 4 rubber feet, so there will be minimal electrical pickup
from the engine after that and you'll be relying on the tender.  Early on, I experimented with doing that on my kitbashed
PRR 2-10-0 (because the pewter boiler and added weight pulling 90 cars was apparently not enough for me... ha ha !)
I eventually decided against it because of pickup and tracking problems.  The engine just doesn't roll as freely with all those rubber wheels on there.

You really shouldn't need it.  So I'd look elsewhere for the problem.

My pull testing confirms this as well.  The second traction tire driver at the #2 position actually decreases pulling power.

[jdcolombo]

Same here.  I tried the second traction tire and removed it - no increase in pulling power and notable decrease in electrical pickup.

Follow Max's advice.  My Mikes will pull 16 40' boxcars each weighted to 1oz, or 16 oz. total, on flat terrain, including 15" curves.  With the GHQ shell, yours should do MUCH better than that.

John C.

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

Just another suggestion......how old are the traction tires........ the rubber hardens/deteriorates over time...... losing grip....... try new/fresh tires.

[mike_lawyer]

Just another suggestion......how old are the traction tires........ the rubber hardens/deteriorates over time...... losing grip....... try new/fresh tires.

Good point, these traction tires have been sitting around for a while.  I will see if I can find some fresh ones to install.  Worth a shot.

Mike

[mike_lawyer]

I looked in my parts box, but do not have any extra traction tires.  If anyone has spares, let me know.  Thanks.

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

I have plenty.....
Send an email/address to www.atsfnscalemodels.com please.

Regards, Dirk Blikkendaal

[mike_lawyer]

I have plenty.....
Send an email/address to www.atsfnscalemodels.com please.

Regards, Dirk Blikkendaal

Sent you am email.  Thanks!