To my esteemed and experienced fellow model railroaders on this forum. This is no joke or sarcastic comment, but in reality a request, no plea, for some concrete instructions to successfully install BFS on my Kato GS4. It is my intent to keep the existing traction tire mounted, intact and inplace and apply the BFS smoothly around the tire and groove to ensure a smooth ride and that the tire is secure in place, doesn't break, and is otherwise well protected. Right now, I am building a special cradle to put the loco in while applying the BFS which has access to a power pack. I plan to be very careful, and practice on some old Rivarossi tires until I feel confident to attack a $200 locomotive. Nothing I can do about the other deficiencies except to live with them, and run my ConCor GS4, my ConCor Fantasy Hudson, my Kato SD70ACe. Once the BFS has been successfully applied and dried, I am hopeful that the treated wheels will serve me a few years. I read and re-read the forum instructions and the instructions on the package so, once I get my practice wheels done ok, then it is on to the big one......the GS4. The only promise I can make is that I will read every word you guys provide me in this time of need. I have never used stuff like this.......ever, and since hurricanes will be looming and it will be horribly rainy every day through the weekend, I will have the time and resources to tackle this goal. Thanks in advance. I know I overstated my need, but the stakes are high. I have an incredibly well stocked workshop with 29 years of accumulated tools and supplies so that is not an obstacle. :ru-shocked: Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
It replaces the traction tire, no? The mfgr says you can do multiple thin layers, letting each one cure overnight. And has anyone tried/dared to slightly fill in the TT groove with a little paint (letting it dry thoroughly) and then use BFS over that? Perhaps there would be less wobble and better electrical contact by replacing the TT. Something for me to try when the time comes. If applied over the TT, you still have to make sure the TT is very secure on the wheel. It's the slipping and movement that blows out the TT. A very thin coating of acrylic paint in the groove applied while the wheels run at moderate speed (sort of like you would with BFS) and reinstalling the TT has been recommended. And run the wheels at speed again to make sure that the TT is evenly round.
Would it help to put a thin layer of BFS in the groove, let it cure, and then put the traction tire back in? My guess is that this would secure the traction tire better.
Hi Ken, I had best results on my Con-Cor GS-4 by removing the traction tire, and then building up something like Bullfrog Snot in very thin layers. My BF Snot unfortunately sat in my mailbox overnight on a very cold night (-8F) so I wasn't sure it would reconstitute correctly, so used a similar compound. The Con-Cor ran better without traction tires; it ran better still with my cobbled together compound; I suspect that it will run still again better with BF Snot applied very thinly, in layers.
As I have said many times you all should try John Colombo's double sided tape technique. He has described it in details and I can tell you as a first timer it has worked miracles on my Life like Berkshires. I can pull 20 cars up a 1.3% grade helix. It is cheap, easily reversible and the first thing like this that I have ever done. I have also used John's instructions to do my first DCC installation on the same Lifelike berkshire that worked immediately. I have now done 2 more. Give it a try. It is easy. It is easy to take off and mine have lasted 18 months. Jack Sibold
Ken, Use the BFS as an adhesive under the TT if you are adverse to using the acrylic paint method we have suggested before. I prefer using acrylic paint as it is thinner and less likely to cause your TT to be out of round. Bullfrog snot will improve a loco without TT but it will not improve performance over a loco that already has TT, unless they are the old school hard vinyl tires. I could see it improving things on them.
Except that the tape will eventually leave it's sticky residue all over your track. This is, quite honestly, one of the worst remedies I've ever heard of.
The BS of Sticky No offense intended here toward Jacksibold, but I couldn't agree more with Mcjaco. You don't want something that leaves any kind of residue on the tracks. What goes on sticky comes off sticky. Bull Frog Snot doesn't leave a residue and isn't likely to wear out. I used it to get two locomotives back into service and I have several more including my Kato, GS4 that will get this treatment. You won't go wrong with the Bull Frog Snot. And, that's no bull.
Well I have run this tape approach for nearly 2 years without a problem. Furthermore, guess what Bullfrog snot is. A polymer that is not totally cross-linked to give some tackiness similar to adhesive on tape. So in the end, it is your decision about residue, simplicity of application and cost. Too bad we have not figured out how to deposit nano-particles of sand on the rail that is 1/160 of the prototype. That sand was great when my dad brought it home from the NKP for my sandbox in the late 40's and early 50's. However, when i got back into this hobby somewhat seriously after 45 years it was amazing to see how easy it was to do things realistically. So maybe we will be spreading sand from our locomotives that is 0.2 microns diameter or less. That would be a nano-particle. Static charges might make it difficult to handle but who knows.
Jeff and guys, This is early Saturday, Sept 4, and my family is out of town, leaving me otherwise non-obstructed to just sit down and do it. Right now my GS4 runs OK with the recently repaired TT's from Kato, but I am skitterish about putting any time on this loco save for another TT blowout. I also will confess to not having the necessary testicular fortitude in this matter, as making a chancy modification to a loco in which I have already invested close to $225 or more still makes my hand shake a bit. So, to fortify me all week since I got the BFS, I put the little bottle on my dining room table which is the epicenter of my place, and everytime I leave or come back, my wallet and keys sit right next to the bottle looming me to stop procrastinating this....... I pretty much alienated Kato in my dealings with them, so sending this back to them is not an option, so it is do or die, but it has to be done. But one person mentioned that I could use some acrylic paint to set the traction tire in place and protect it and bond it to the wheel. After the "surgery" and the drying time and test run is over, I will update this topic, even if I am committed to an asylum if it doesn't work out. lol Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
How to install BULLFROG SNOT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOawcCRpxmo This used the SNOT on both drivers, because I know it works great. Old BULLFROG SNOT was removed, and new installed for the video. Bill
