Hi all. I have noticed, as with most other bachman locos, 2-4-0 Linda has hardly any traction on gradients despite her weight. See my other post 'Linda 2-4-0 Problems' for more info on this particular loco and to read my rant on her traction. Anyway, going back to the subject, She doesn't have any grooves in her wheels to insert traction tyres and I was wondering if using bullfrog snot is a good idea. From what I know, she only has Pickups on her driving wheels, which you would need to apply the snot to. Would doing that alter her performance too much? I am relatively new to 009 and would need all the help I could get! Thank you!
Two things to consider here:
1. If you put Bullfrog snot on the treads, presumably to stick the traction tyres to, as the wheels do not have grooves which the tyres would fit into if Bachmann had wanted to include them, you are going to increase the diameter of the wheels and I imagine it would be visible.
2. If the pickups are on the driving wheels, then fitting traction tyres to them will surely affect the pickups so your loco will either run poorly or won't run at all.
Further: I imagine that once you put bullfrog snot on, you aren't going to get it off again without marking where its been - so if you purchased Linda new, then your guarantee will be nil and void.
I wouldn't do it if it were me! A better way is to find where you can put some weight, preferebly lead as there won't be many places you can put it, so small pieces will be required, but any weight is better than no weight, but make sure that the balance of the loco is retained so that the weight is evenly distributed over the driving wheels wheelbase.
Other opinions will no doubt be available on here soon!
Mick
I've heard about Bullfrog Snot, but not used it so I found what seems to be a measured and unbiased view from Chadwick Model Railway.
I thought naively that it might be some sort of conductive rubber compound, but clearly not. In that case, given that one of the critical things about good running in 009, especially with locos with few axles, is maintaining good electrical pickup so having to rely on pickup from a single axle doesn't sound promising.
If there is no other way then perhaps trying it on a single wheel or diagonally opposed wheels on a four wheel loco might give some slight advantage.
There are quite a few locos that are lighter than the Bachmann large Hunslets. The simple answer it to not have any unrealistic grades on your layout and to add as much lead as you can to the locos. I would think that a 1 in 30 grade should be ok with most locos.
Another solution is what 'real' railways often did - provide a banker to give some extra shove up the hill.
David.