Model Railway Forum

Well less than a month in of the new layout my 2 Yr old sons favourite, Gordon, is playing up again.

This time it has shed both of its traction tyres and so won't run at all now. I've tried refitting them but it seems as though they have stretched slightly, or maybe they were never a good fit, which could explain the bad running I initially had with it. I downloaded the service sheet, #424, and it says that replacements are X7125. Which would be fine if they actually existed anywhere. I sent an email to Hornby customer services and again they are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Their response was to ring Peters Spares. I didn't get the reply til this evening so couldn't ring them today but will try on Monday if I can't find a solution.

I tried some little o rings from work but they seem to be too thick and is causing it to derail on points.

Has anyone got any experience with the strange can motor they put in this instead of the ring field.

Im in work in the morning, but when I finish at midday I may take my boy down to Lord and Butler in Cardiff to get some bits and pieces and I'll see if they have anything that may help.

Does anyone know of a alternative to the X7125 tyres? The wheels are about 16 diameter not including the flange and the current tyres are about 1.5mm wide. Is this similar to any of Hornbys other tyres?

If anyone has any advice you will make a 2yr old (as well as his day) very happy!

Try Peter Spares he has traction tyres to fit most locos.
Another trick is Bull Frog Snot. If you can still buy it. You can put it on the wheels to replace the tyres and it works...............So I am told.........I have never used the stuff myself.

Try Hornby Traction tyres X 8030 listed on ebay by a chap called john....He sells lot of spares forgot his proper title. Just look on the bay. Job done.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M1144-X8030- ... :rk:1:pf:0

Maybe?

Or

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X8030-Hornby ... :rk:2:pf:0

at a much better bargain price!

Thanks for the replies.

I'm going down to Lord and Butler in Cardiff to see if they have any and to get some other bits and bobs (this 'simple' layout just for my boy is getting a bit addictive!). If not then I'll order some from Peters spares and give them a go. I'm starting to remember how much a pain traction tyres were fron when I had an old class 37 when I was a kid.

I'll report back with any results!

Am I right in thinking you haven't had this long? If so it might be worth you ringing Hornby customer services or emailing them. They have in the past been very helpful, if a bit slow in responding.

I bought it last August but it didn't get used until just before Christmas to check the layout worked before the big day. I had problems initially so emailed Hornby and they weren't very helpful, just said take it back where I bought it or send it to them for repair, which I know is fair enough but all I wanted was a crank pin, I even offered to pay for it. This time I emailed the same guy to try and jump the que a bit and he did reply the next morning, but just to try peters spares. I appreciate the tyres are a consumable so I wouldn't have minded paying for them.

I popped (when I say popped, I was in there for nearly an hour yapping!) in to Lord and Butler today and he had a look for some replacements but he didn't have any there. I did buy some more pieces of platforms, some sprung uncoupling thingys and my first Metcalf kit so it wasn't a complete wasted trip, lol.

For the metcalf kit I bought so card glue and I've tried gluing the tyres back on the wheels for now and I'll try ordering some of the ones above and give thenlm a go and I'll probably ring Peters spares on Monday to see what they say.

Try the ebay links you were given.

I will have a look and see if i can get some if you have no luck

Hi.

Thank you for your offer. If you know of a source or even just which ones fit I will probably get some spares.

I dropped "him" down to Lord and Butler in Cardiff and they sorted it out Martin found a couple of tyres that fitted. I meant to ask him what ones they were in case it happens again, but I forgot.

Touch wood it's running well done and my boy is loving it. I can't believe how quickly kids learn. He's just gone 2 and he's almost got the hang of the controllers after mastering the on/off switches I setup for each track within a few days. He's now moved onto the points and he's slowly getting reliable enough with them that I can direct him what do do and not end up with 'too' many disasters!

Thanks

Gareth