Tire-Traction; Installing "Flangeless" Tender Wheel Assemblies; Installing The O Gauge Front Coupler - Lionel Big Boy Owner's Manual

Maintaining and servicing your locomotive

Tire-Traction

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our locomotive is equipped with traction tires. This means that four of the drive wheels are
fitted with rubber traction tires to enhance tractive effort so your locomotive can pull many cars
at once.
Lionel has provided extra traction tires to replace the installed traction tires if they ever wear out.
The traction tires are replaced by unscrewing the drive rod screws. A 3/16" nut driver is included
with this locomotive for this purpose. Slip off the old traction tire and remove it from under the drive
rod. Place the new traction tire on the wheel and re-tighten the drive rod screw.

Installing "Flangeless" Tender Wheel Assemblies

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ionel has included three extra sets of "Blind" or flangeless tender wheel and axle
assemblies which may be installed if there is any difficulty negotiating certain non-Lionel
switch tracks. If necessary, it is recommended that these replace the second, third and fifth
wheel sets in the non-swiveling portion of the tender.
To change out the wheel sets, remove the four screws that hold one of the tender truck sides
in place as shown in Figure 6. Install one or more flangeless wheel and axle assemblies as
required. Reposition the truck side and secure with he four removed screws.
Figure 6. Installing flangless wheel sets
Installing the "O" gauge front coupler
C
arefully turn your locomotive over and remove the screw holding the scale coupler with
a small Philips head screwdriver. Remove the scale coupler and coupler door from the
locomotive and store in a safe spot for possible reassembly later.
Position the "O" gauge coupler and secure with the previously removed screw. Refer to
Figure 7. Note that the coupler door cannot be installed when using the "O" gauge coupler.
Flangless wheel sets
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