Cleaning The Wheels, Tires And Track; Locomotive Traction Tire Replacement - M.T.H. New York MTA R-21 Operating Instructions Manual

Cleaning the Wheels, Tires and Track

Periodically check the locomotive wheels and pickups for dirt and buildup,
which can cause poor electrical contact and traction as well as prematurely
wear out the neoprene traction tires. Wheels and tires can be cleaned using
denatured alcohol (not rubbing alcohol), which can be found in home
improvement stores, applied with a cotton swab.
Occasional cleaning of the track will also help to ensure good electrical contact
and to prolong the life of your engine's tires. To clean the track, use a clean
rag and denatured alcohol (not rubbing alcohol). Unplug the transformer and
wipe the rails of the track, turning the rag frequently to ensure that you are
using clean cloth on the rails.
Traction Tire Replacement Instructions
Your subway set is equipped with two neoprene rubber traction tires on each
powered truck block. While these tires are extremely durable, you may need to
replace them at some point.
1. Remove the two Phillips screws that
attach the truck sides to the truck block and
remove the truck sides.
2. Make sure the old tire has been
completely removed from the groove in the
drive wheel, using a razor blade or small
flathead screwdriver to pry away any
remains.
3. Slip the new tire onto the wheel. You
may find it useful to use two small flathead
screwdrivers to stretch the tire over the
wheel.
4. If you twist the tire while stretching it
over the wheel, you will need to remove and reinstall the tire. Otherwise your
engine will wobble while operating.
5. Make sure the tire is fully seated inside the groove. Use a razor blade to
trim away any excess tire that doesn't seat itself inside the groove properly.
6. Reassemble in reverse order.
RailKing R-21 4 Car Subway Set
Truck Screws
Figure 4. Screws to Remove to
Access the Traction Tires
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