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Those rubber bands are referred to traction tires I believe. It appears to be missing one on the other side?

Try taping some weights to the top of the shell and seeing if that helps the tractive effort Looks like there would
be room to add weight under the shell if that helps. Looks under weighted.

The traction tires might be available but unsure where you would find them. Maybe contact Bachmann?
 


I agree, and do not see a groove on any of the other wheels. If you are running that locomotive cab-forward, swap the axles on the rear truck and put the one with the traction tire in the front of the bogie and the plain axle trailing. That might help along with some extra weight as the others mentioned.

It is unusual to me to find only one traction tire on a locomotive. The second tire is usually on the other bogie on the opposite side.

Putting a tire on a wheel without a groove is not going to help. It will likely lift the plain wheel on the other side and it will not stay on the wheel anyway.
 
That is a really old Bachmann F9 engine the diagram parts list does show a traction tire but the diagram (very poor ) doesn't show them
the next diagram slightly newer but same setup does not list them

I think someone altered that power truck somehow there might not be a gear on both those axles Do both axles spin when you apply power
and there is weight in the middle under that flat plate the newer version of that has a second weight to the right of the motor ( still old )

both those axles should either have tires or none at all just on the same side of the truck

There are pickup wipers on both trucks and on both sides of each truck

see if you can get the truck apart and see what's in it good luck
 
To the best of my knowledge, the traction tires only go on wheels with a groove in them for the tire.
That is a great observation, one I missed. No grove means it was designed to run without them.

How Traction Tire Wheels Are Made:

  • Grooved Wheels:
    • A shallow channel is machined into the wheel tread.
    • The rubber traction tire sits inside that groove, flush or close to it with the wheel surface.
    • This prevents the tire from slipping off and keeps the wheel diameter consistent.
  • Smooth Wheels (no groove):
    • These are not designed for traction tires.
    • If you try to fit a tire on them, it may not stay in place and could lift the wheel off the rail.
the wheels seem to be slipping
I would first try removing the traction tire to see if it improves.
 


Have this made-in-China Bachmann that came in a misc box of stuff I bought on fleaBay. (Was sold as part of a Life-Like set)

Engine does not work.

Should I just salvage the light and pitch the rest?

Or are they worth fixin'?

I wouldn't think so... Given I can buy short DC only locos (the kind I need for now) for about $85

Thoughts?

20260104_114805.jpg

20260104_121038.jpg

Same with the second one

Guess these will both go in the spare parts bin
 
Last edited:
Have this made-in-China Bachmann that came in a misc box of stuff I bought on fleaBay. (Was sold as part of a Life-Like set)

Engine does not work.

Should I just salvage the light and pitch the rest?

Or are they worth fixin'?

I wouldn't think so... Given I can buy short DC only locos (the kind I need for now) for about $85

Thoughts?

View attachment 253524
Might just need a clean and new brushes, or you could replace the motor with a can (conversion kits are around $12) and keep it.
 




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